r head out of the window last thing, reported
driving clouds and a total absence of stars.

Yet, lo and behold! they woke to one of those rare ethereal dawns that
come only now and then in a summer. The Blue bedroom faced east, and
over the line of laurels in the garden they could watch pearl and opal
flush into rosy pink before the sun shone out in an almost cloudless
sky. By nine o'clock the wet grass of yesterday was beginning to dry up,
and Miss Adams, with the help of Jones the gardener, was setting up her
scenery, and making initial arrangements for the business of the
afternoon.

She had contrived her open-air theater as far as possible on Greek
lines. There was no stage, but the audience sat on chairs on the grass,
and on cushions and rugs placed down a bank that commanded the lawn.
The performance was to begin at 3 o'clock, and soon after 2.30 visitors
began to arrive. There was quite a long row of cars in the drive,
bicycles were stacked against the veranda, and two ponies were put up in
the stable. Cousin Clare and her friends came in excellent time,
driven--much to Dulcie's satisfaction--by Milner, who in company with
the other chauffeurs received a cordial invitation from Miss Walters to
witness the show.

"And wasn't it nice of him?" said Dulcie to Carmel, "he insisted on
giving a shilling to the funds. I told him it wasn't expected, but he
said he should _like_ to, if we didn't mind. Mind! Why, we want all the
money we can get!"

"I think Milner is an old dear!" agreed Carmel.

Mr. Bowden had actually managed to get away from his office after all,
and had brought a niece with him in the side-car of his motor-bicycle.
He looked quite beaming, as if he meant to forget the law for a few
hours, and to enjoy himself. He sat next to Cousin Clare, chatting
affably and admiring the arrangements.

A piano had been carried out on to the lawn for the occasion, and Miss
Lowe, the music mistress, took her seat at it. She was supported by a
small school orchestra of three violins and violoncello, and together
they struck up some Eastern music. When it was well started there was a
flashing of white among the bushes on the farther side of the lawn, and
out came tripping a bevy of charming wood nymphs. They were all clad in
Greek chitons, very delicately draped, their hair was bound with gold
fillets, and their arms and feet were bare. They held aloft garlands of
flowers, and circling on that part of the lawn which