"A party!" exclaimed Marion; "when and where?"
"To-night, at Mrs. Dickenson's; she has a family dinner-party, and a few friends are invited in the evening; of course I don't suppose it's a regular _party_, but quite an event for our Miss Christine."
"I should think as much," replied Marion. "I am so glad she's going! Wasn't Miss Stiefbach invited?"
"Oh, yes, of course; but she declined. I suppose she thought it would never do to leave us alone."
"No, 'while the cat's away the mice _will_ play,' you know."
"Yes, I should think the mice played a little last night," laughed Mattie.
"So they did; but then the cat was round. Come, I've played enough for these girls. I mean to ask Miss Christine to let me do her hair. You come with me, and I'll give you some of the good things the mice _didn't_ play with."
"O Marion!" wailed half-a-dozen girls; "aren't you going to play any more?"
"No, I can't. I've most banged my fingers off; ask Fannie."
"But she doesn't play half as well as you do."
"Much obliged for your flattery; but it's all wasted this time," answered Marion, as she and Mattie left the room to hunt up Miss Christine.
"Sallie, do you know where Miss Christine is?" asked Marion, as they met Sarah Brown on the stairs.
"Yes, she's just gone to her room. Do you know she's going to a party!"
"1 know it; isn't it splendid? I'm going up to ask her to let me do her hair."
"Yes, she will; I'll coax her into it, see if I don't."
"Where are you going to do it? Do let me see you."
"In my room, I guess, so that Flo can see me; but not until after tea."
After depositing Mattie in her room with a plateful of goodies, Marion proceeded to that of Miss Christine, which was directly opposite that of Miss Stiefbach, and upon knocking was immediately told to "Come in" by Miss Christine, who at that moment was shaking out the folds of a plain, but handsome black silk.
"O Miss Christine, isn't it splendid?" cried Marion, clasping her hands; "you're going to a party!"
Miss Christine laughed her dear, little, good-natured laugh. "Why, it seems to be considered a most wonderful event. Sarah has just been up here, and appears almost as pleased as if she were going herself."
"Of course she is, and so am I; and I'm going to do your hair."