"I was just on the point of making that motion," laughed Edward Watkins. "And I of seconding it," cried Miss Merriam. "It would come more appropriately from us." "You were far too slow," retorted Tom. "I couldn't wait for you." "As the president was one of the cooks she ought to place some one else in the chair to put a motion complimentary in part to herself, but as the maker of the motion and the seconder were also cooks we're all in the same box and I don't believe it's necessary. All in favor say 'Aye'." A shout of "Ayes" followed. "Contrary minded." Silence. "Madam President." "Mrs. Morton has the floor." "I don't want to seem inhospitable, but if you're going to reach the Atwoods' on time you'd better be starting." There was a general scattering and a donning of outer garments. The boys picked up the bags and the Club started for the bridge, Dr. Watkins and Miss Merriam going with them. When the Ethels had called on Mrs. Atwood and had asked her if the Club might visit her on New Year's Eve the old lady had been not only surprised but somewhat alarmed. She grew more cordial, however, when Ethel Brown explained it to her. "Would you mind our asking some of our friends?" "Not at all. We'd be glad to do the few small things that we've planned for just as many people as you can get in here." "That isn't many," replied Mrs. Atwood, looking about her sitting room. "But there's one of my neighbors hardly ever gets to the stores or to a movie show, and I'd love to ask her in; and there's another one is just getting up from a sickness." So the room was quite filled with guests when the Club members arrived. "That's the boy that hung my gate for me last year the day after Hallowe'en," whispered one old woman as Roger made his way through the room, and several of them said, "Those are the young folks that went round after the regular Hallowe'en party this year and put back the signs and things the other people had pulled down." The audience was so much larger than the Club had expected that Helen, as president, felt called upon to make a short explanation. "We're very glad to see you here," she said, "but we don't want you to expect anything elaborate from us. We've just come to entertain our friends for a short time in a simple way. So please be kind to us." Helen was wearing a pale pink dress that was extremely becoming, and her cheeks were flushed when she realized that these people had seen or heard of their more pretentious undertakings and might be expecting something similar from them now. There was a reassuring nodding all over the room, and then the young people began their performance. Edward Watkins first played on the violin, giving some familiar airs with such spirit that toes went tapping as he drew his bow back and forth.