"I know just how you feel," said Ethelwyn. "I took mother's gold dragon
stick-pin for my dolly's blanket one day, because I was in a hurry, and
lost it of course, and felt so mizzable, as if nothing could ever be
nice again. Now take the plate and go and get Nora, dear, and we'll have
the best tea party."

And they did, and the guests had each another box of candy for their
"silvernears," besides, but Ethelwyn and Beth ate far too much, and
that's the reason their next day good time began by being a bad time
too.




_CHAPTER XI_
_The Day After_

In the lovely playtime, life seems always gay.
In the sober worktime, sometimes it grows gray.


Mother was superintending the strawberry jam in the kitchen, giving
orders to the grocery boy, and paying Mrs. O'Neal for sewing, all at
once.

You can't do this unless you are a mother, but mothers can do almost
everything at once.

"It's a fortunate thing that the Bible says everybody mustn't work on