the wig pulled coquettishly over her blonde curls. "Look at the little
darkey over there. I was just telling the girls that he is all that is
needed to complete your cavalier tableau. Call him over here and tell
him that he must come to-night." Just then the boy turned and started on
a trot to the kitchen. "Why, it's John Jay!" exclaimed Hallie. "Old Lucy
has been scolding about those eggs for the last two hours. His
grandmother promised to send them over immediately after breakfast. I'll
go down and see what kept him so long. He is always getting into
trouble."

"Make him come up here," begged Sally Lou, "and get him to talk for us.
I know he'll be lots of fun, for he has such a bright face."

In a few moments the laughing young hostess was back among her guests,
with John Jay following her. "Don't you want to see all my birthday
presents?" she asked, leading the way into the library and beckoning the
girls to follow. "See! I found this mandolin in my chair when I went to
the breakfast-table this morning, and this watch was under my napkin.
This tennis-racquet was on the piano when I came up-stairs, and I've
been finding books and things all morning." She opened a great box of
chocolate bonbons as she spoke, and filled both his hands.

[Illustration: Filled both his hands]

He looked about him with round, astonished eyes, but never said a word
in answer to the eager questions of the girls, beyond a bashful "yessa"
or "no'm."

The arrival of Raleigh Stanford and one of his friends, on their wheels,
put an end to the girls' interest in John Jay. He was dismissed with a