his pen.

"Oh! I forgot," he said, looking up; "I intended to tell you to bring
some of your cards and envelopes. I want some invitations written."

"Are you going to give a dinner?" asked Marian, looking over his
shoulder. "Oh, no! I see by the length of your list it's an evening
affair, or a musicale."

"You run along, daughter," said the old gentleman, "and get what I tell
you. This is my affair; it's a musicale and something else combined. I
don't just know myself." And he laughed at the sight of her face.

"If father is only pleased, I don't care what it is," said Mrs. Whitney
to herself, hurrying over the stairs and back again, never once thinking
of Polly's and Jasper's surprise for the boys.

"You see, Marian," said Mr. King as she sat down by the table, and laid
the cards and envelopes in front of him, "that I'm going to help out
that affair that Jasper and Polly are getting up."

"Oh, father! how good of you!" exclaimed Mrs. Whitney in a delighted
tone, which immensely pleased the old gentleman, to begin with.

"They've been working very hard, those two, at their studies this
autumn. I've seen them," cried Mr. King with a shrewd air, "and I'm
going now to give them a little pleasure."

Marian said nothing, but let him have the comfort of doing all the
talking, which he now enjoyed to his heart's content.