national calamity. We mourn our loss!"

"We do so!" agreed Beatrice. "Why, Patty, I'm going to have a
house party next week, and we'll have lots of fun going on. Can't
you wait over for that?"

"No, I can't," and Patty spoke a little shortly, for these gay
plans made her long more than ever to stay at Spring Beach. "So
don't let's talk any more about me. Tell me about the Pageant,--
will it be fine?"

"Oh, yes," said Jack, "the biggest thing ever. Sort of like a
Durbar, you know, with elephants and--"

"No, it isn't going to be like that," said Lora. "They've given up
that plan. It's going to be ever so much nicer than that! They're
going to have--"

"Don't tell me!" cried Patty, laughing, as she clapped her hands
over her ears. "I'd rather not hear about it! I suppose you'll be
queen of it, whatever it is, Lora?"

"I'll have a chance at it, if you're not here! That's the only
comfort about your going away. Somebody else can be the Belle of
Spring Beach for a time."

The good-natured laughter in Lora's eyes took all sting from her
words, and, indeed, it was an acknowledged fact that Pretty Patty
was the belle of the little seashore colony.