her mother on special occasions. "Just go out with the others and
shut the door while I phone."

There was no possibility of Mrs. Dunbar's voice being heard over the
din of merry-making in the dining-room, for just then Grace was making
a speech, and Madaline was applauding, while Cleo quickly fell in with
the fun, by parading around the room with a table candle in each hand,
and an upturned fruit basket on her head.

Mary sat back on the window seat, spellbound. Being a real girl in
spite of her peculiarities, she would occasionally burst into the most
musical ripple of laughter, then suddenly check herself, as if fearful
of violating some obligation to be sad or melancholy.

Presently Mrs. Dunbar appeared at the door to suggest bed time, and
when she gave no message to Mary from her telephone call Cleo surmised
the news was not what they had hoped for. Passing by her aunt in the
hall, Mrs. Dunbar whispered, "Sleeping," and Cleo knew Mary might take
alarm at that report, for the dread fever she so often mentioned was
always termed the "sleeping fever." But it was bed time and in the
delicious process of undressing and donning gowns or pajamas the girls
enjoyed the usual pranks that are ever unusual, and seem different
every time they are indulged in. There were pillow fights, parades,
sponge splashes, ghost dances, and other stunts "too numerous to
mention," but it must be recorded that it required the combined
persuasion of Jennie, with her two funny pig tails hanging over her
voluminous night dress, and Mrs. Dunbar in the most fragile of
negligees to induce the girls to turn out lights, and finally get
settled for the night.

It had been possible to decide with whom Mary should sleep. Each bed
would have held her in addition to its usual occupant, but on drawing
straws the lot fell to Madaline, who had coveted it from the first, as
her bed was really of double size.

"Mine is the only big, full grown straw!" declared Madaline proudly,
waving the whisk that had been plucked from Jennie's broom, "and now,
ladies, we bid you a fond farewell. Come on, Mary."

The exit was quite dramatic in character, for Madaline accidentally
tripped over a fur rug, and was spilled rather rudely all over the hall
floor, but a little thing like that had no effect on the delighted
Madaline, who rather expected Mary would unfold her confidence once in
the quiet of their own room.

"I hope dear Grandie is all right," Mary sort