mprove the girl, and she rejoiced to have her
show a desire to join in the new project.

"You can help us lots, I'm sure, Zaly," she said, kindly, "and you'll
have a chance to learn about it all. There's heaps of fun in a Fair,
especially when it's all novel to you. It's an old story to us, but _I_
always love anything of the sort. We'll have it here, you see, and it
will be a lawn _fete_ and a house party and a general hullabaloo!"

"We're making out the committees," said Betty, "and, you'll be here,
won't you, Elise?"

"Well, I just guess! You can't lose _me_! I shall be back and forth,
of course, but I'll do my share of the work, and exact my share of the
fun."

"Fine!" said Betty, a bit absently, as she was deeply absorbed in her
list of names.

"Of course," Patty went on, partly to the others and partly as if merely
thinking aloud for her own benefit, "there will be all the regulation
things,--lemonade well, fortune-telling, society circus and everything,
but the idea is to have every one of them just a little bit different
from what it has always been before, and have it in harmony with the
idea of Vanity Fair."

"The book?" asked Elise.

"No, not Thackeray. I mean, just the idea of the gay atmosphere,--the
light, giddy side of life. For instance, let's have a Vanity booth and
sell all sorts of aids to beauty--"

"Powder and paint!" exclaimed Azalea, in surprise.

"Well, I meant more like lacy caps and stunning negligees. And yes, of
course, vanity cases and powder-puff bags and mirrors and perfumes,--oh,
all sorts of foolishnesses that are pretty."

"I know," said Elise, nodding her head. "And we'll have an artificial
flower booth,--that's right in line. And people love to buy 'em,--I do."

"And laces," said Patty; "and embroidered boudoir pillows, and oh,--and
baby things! Why Fleurette's nursery wardrobe looks like a Vanity Fair
itself!"

"Hold on," cried Betty, laughing, "don't go too far. Not everybody is
interested in baby togs!"

"I s'pose not," said Patty, smiling. "All right, cut out the Baby
booth."

"No," spoke up Azalea, "let's have it. Everybody knows a baby to give
presents to. And the little caps and things are so pretty."

"Good for you, Zaly," cried Patty; "we'll have it, and you and I will
run it, and Fleurette shall be the presiding genius, and sit enthroned
among the fairy wares! Oh, it will be lovely!"

"Yes, do have it," agreed Betty. "It will be a screaming success with