e, but he doesn't get
mad at all. He thinks she's the most wonderful woman in the world, but
I must find him and put myself right with him before we go home and
tackle her. He'll need my help then more'n he did makin' that beastly
sled! It was awful--really awful--the way he went rolling down that
icy slide, but to save my life I can't help laughing when I think of
it. Can you?"

At the lad's absurd movements, as he now pictured John's remarkable
"ride" they all laughed; but suddenly Dorothy demanded:

"You sit right down yonder on that settle and wait for me. You can't
find Mr. Gilpin, now, he's far on the road home. But there's something
I must ask Miss Tross-Kingdon--"

"No! You don't ask Miss Tross-Kingdon one single thing till I've had
my ask first, Dorothy Calvert! Here I'm nearly crazy, trying to hold
in my secret, and--"

"I claim my chance too! I've a petition of my own if you please and
let the first to arrive win!" shouted Gwendolyn, speeding after the
other two toward the "audience chamber."

Thus deserted, Robin laughed and curled up on the bench to wait; while
the Lady Principal's sanctum was boisterously invaded by three
petitioners, forgetful of the required decorum, and each trying to
forestall the others, with her:

"Oh! Miss Muriel, may I--?" "Please, Miss Tross-Kingdon, my
father's--"

"Hear me first, dear Lady Principal, before he gets away. Can--"

But the Lady Principal merely clapped her hands over her ears and
ordered:

"One at a time. Count twenty."

CHAPTER XV

MRS. JARLEY ENTERTAINS

"I've counted! And I beg pardon for rushing in here like that. But I
was afraid the others had favors to ask and I wanted to get mine in
first!" said Gwendolyn, after the brief pause Miss Tross-Kingdon had
suggested.

"Oh! you sweet, unselfish thing!" mocked Winifred, "your favor can't
be half as fine as mine--"

"Nor mine! Oh! do please let me speak first, for fear he gets away!"
begged Dorothy, eagerly.

"First come first served, Dolly, please!" coaxed Gwendolyn and the
teacher nodded to her to speak.

"Mine's for next Saturday. Mrs. Jarley's Wax Works are to be in town
and Mamma says if you'll allow I may invite the whole school to go.
She'll have big sleighs sent out for us and will let us have supper at
the hotel where she stops. May we go?"

"Wait a moment, Gwendolyn. Did you say the 'whole school'?"

Each year Lady Jane had allowed her daughter to entertain her
schoolmate