"Festivities to commence at eight," was inscribed in gold letters at
the bottom of the page.

"Oh, Rose, I ought not to ask," said Princess Polly, "and I won't ask
_what_ the festivities are to be, but I'll ask you if you know?'

"Not the least thing," Rose replied, "and when I asked Uncle John, he
only laughed, and said that was his little secret, so we'll have to
wait 'til the night of the party to know what he has planned. The only
thing that he has told me is that on the night of the party, Sprite
is to remain at our house and that will be the first night of her visit
with us."

"I know that," Princess Polly said, "because he told papa that the
time for Sprite to be with him was close at hand, and papa said that
he knew that we had had our share of her visit, but she has been so
sweet, so dear, that we'd never be ready to let her go."

"That's just the reason we want her, for truly, Princess Polly, next
to you, Sprite is the sweetest girl I know. There's no girl quite so
dear as you, Polly, but surely Sprite comes the very next," Rose said.




CHAPTER IX

A JOLLY TIME