olet said, "and not be jealous
or envious if your party should far outshine ours of last year."

"And we have more than a month to get ready in," remarked Rosie with
satisfaction. "Oh I'm so glad mamma has decided on it in such good
season!"

"Hello!" cried Max, glancing back toward an intersecting road which they
had just crossed, "Here they come!"

"Who?" asked several voices, while all turned their heads to see for
themselves.

"The Oaks, and the Roselands folks," answered Max, and as he spoke two
large sleighs came swiftly up in the rear of their own, their occupants
calling out merry greetings, and receiving a return in kind.

The wind had fallen, the cold was not intense, and they were so well
protected against it by coats and robes of fur, that they scarcely felt
it, and found the ride so thoroughly enjoyable that they kept it up
through the whole morning, managing their return so that Ion was reached
only a few minutes before the dinner hour.

Ion was a sort of headquarters for the entire connection, and everybody
seemed to feel perfectly at home. Grandma Elsie was a most hospitable
hostess, and it was a very cheerful, jovial party that surrounded her
well-spread table that day.

After dinner, while the older people conversed together in the parlors,
the younger ones wandered at will through the house.

The girls were together in a small reception-room, chatting about such
matters as particularly interested them--their studies, sports, plans
for the purchase or making of Christmas gifts, and what they hoped or
desired to receive. "I want jewelry," said Sidney Dinsmore. "I'd rather
have that than anything else. But it must be handsome: a diamond pin or
ring, or ear-rings."

"Mamma says diamonds are quite unsuitable for young girls," said Rosie.
"So I prefer pearls: and I'm rather in hopes she may give me some for
Christmas."

"I'd rather have diamonds anyhow," persisted Sydney. "See Maud's new
ring, just sent her by a rich old aunt of ours. I'm sure it looks lovely
on her finger and shows off the beauty of her hand."

"Yes, I've been admiring it," said Lulu, "and I thought I'd never seen
it before."

Maud held out her hand with, evident pride and satisfaction, while the
others gathered round her eager for a close inspection of the ring.

They all admired it greatly and Maud seemed gratified.

"Yes," she said, "it certainly is a beauty, and Chess says it must be
worth a good deal; that centre sto