Even Dorothy could not enlighten them. "It's to be fine," she said,
"and different from any party I ever had, but mamma doesn't wish me to
tell anything about it."

"Won't she let you tell Nancy?" questioned Katie Dean.

"Nancy knows _now_!" declared Reginald; "just look at her!"

Indeed Nancy's dark eyes were merry, and her voice rippled with
laughter, as she said:

"I _do_ know, and I'm going to keep the secret, but it's the hardest one
I ever tried to keep."

At recess they walked arm-in-arm, talking of the party instead of
playing games. They were chattering so gaily that they heard no one
approach, and when suddenly Patricia Lavine peeped over the wall, they
were startled, and wondered how she could have appeared without any one
having seen her coming.

"Why, Patricia! Where'd you come from?" said Mollie.

"Oh, I was walking along and came over because I heard you talking.
Whose party is it going to be?" she asked.

"Dorothy is to have the party," said Jeanette, "but why aren't you in
school?"

"Why aren't _you_?" Patricia asked with a saucy laugh.