“My, how fine!” said Dorothy, “but it’s too story-booky for me. My air-castle is just to travel all over the world—not by any magic, but just travel in real cars and boats, and see all the countries there are.” “I think that’s a nice air-castle,” commented Irene. “What’s yours, Ethel?” “Oh, I’d like to be famous; a great celebrity, you know. I don’t care whether it’s in the musical or artistic or literary line. But I’d like to feel, and to have other people feel, that I’d done something grand.” “I don’t believe you ever will,” said Maude, laughing. “Now, my air-castle is awfully prosaic. I’d like to be a nurse.” “Oh, what a funny air-castle!” exclaimed Martha. “How can you like to be mixed up with sickness and medicines and such things?” “That’s just what I should like. And then to feel that I was helping to make people well! Oh, I think that’s fine!” “Yes, I s’pose it is,” said Martha. “Mine isn’t so noble; I’d just like to be at the head of a big house—about like this—and have a lot of money. Not a great fortune, but just enough to entertain my friends and give them good times—just as Mrs. Halstead does.” “That’s very pretty, my dear,” said Mrs. Halstead herself, who had just stepped out on the veranda to summon the young people to dinner. And again Martha became embarrassed and blushed rosy red, as Mrs. Halstead smiled at her kindly. The next day was fair and beautiful, a perfect day for a May party. “It’s a few days past the first of May, which is the real May-day,” said Mrs. Halstead, at breakfast, “but as it’s Irene’s birthday, we thought we’d celebrate it by a May party. So it’s an afternoon affair, from four to seven, and we’ll have a May-pole dance to wind up with.” “And a May-queen?” asked Betty. “Queen Irene, of course.” “Yes,” said Mrs. Halstead, “Irene will be queen, as it’s her party. And all you girls must be ladies-in-waiting. You may make wreaths for yourselves and trim your dresses with flowers or garlands any way you choose. Now, scamper, and don’t bother me, for I’ve lots of things to attend to.” “Mayn’t we help you, Mrs. Halstead?” asked Betty. “No, my dear. There’s really nothing you could do to help. Indeed, you’ll assist me most by entertaining yourselves.” “All right,” said Ethel. “As Maude has invited us to go to town with her, we’ll have that to entertain us this morning.” But as they walked out of the dining-room and through the broad hall, Maude said: “I’ll have to take back my invitation, girls. I’m not going to take you to get ice-cream this morning.” “Why not?” cried Ethel, impulsively, and then, as they all saw that Maude did not smile, they felt rather uncomfortable. For a few moments nobody spoke, and then Betty, to change the subject, said: “All right; let’s play tennis, then.” But there was a constraint over them all, and no one knew exactly why.