You know we five Aegises have one sitting-room, with three bedrooms opening out of it. As she turned to go, I thought I saw in her face a longing to stay, and be a girl with the rest of us, and I said, "Don't go, Miss Coningham; stay and see what is in the boxes." "Thank you; I know you will enjoy yourselves more alone. Madame told me to give you five young ladies permission to have supper in your own room to-night." "Why?" we all cried. "What made her?" "Because it is Miss Wood's birthday." "My birthday!" cried Gertie, in amaze. "I didn't once think of it;" while the girls flew at her ears. "I don't see how any one could forget such a thing--do you, Miss Coningham?" I asked, as she stood in the door. "No; I could not forget mine," she said. "This is mine too." When I told the girls it was Miss Coningham's birthday too, they unanimously proposed to give her a present, and ran to their rooms for their purses. "There are just ten of us," said Enid, counting. "Pass round a hat," said Ida. "This will do," cried Sallie, seizing an India rubber shoe, and taking up the collection. "If you have little, give little, but if you've got a lot, give a good deal. Six dollars and ninety cents," said Sallie, counting it. "Now what shall we get?" "Flowers? They fade so quickly." "Let's get something she can keep." "Well, what?" "A gold thimble. You know hers rolled down the register, and was lost." We agreed upon the thimble. Then Enid went to Miss Coningham, and gained permission for us to go down to the jeweller's. So the five other girls left the selection of the thimble to us, and went down stairs. "Wasn't 'Cony' good?" said Sallie. "Little did she suspect our object." "Would it be a bad idea to ask her to feast with us to-night?" "Not at all bad. Do you believe she'll come?" "Very doubtful. Who will ask Madame if we may have the feast?" "I," said Sallie; "my life for my country." We bought a beautiful gold thimble for six dollars, and spent the rest for flowers; then hurried home to open the boxes, and get everything ready before study hour. "What shall we do for a table-cloth?" "Take a fresh sheet," said Sallie. "Isn't there anything better?" asks Ida. "Positively nothing," answered Sallie, throwing a sheet at her. "Take this, and be thankful it isn't sheet lightning that strikes you. Now I start for my interview with Madame." "Good luck attend you! Enid, put the flowers in the centre, with a lemon pie at one side and a mince at the other." "Here is a roast chicken," I cried. "Ida, put it at one end." "Enid," called Gertie, "here's a duck in my box; put him opposite the chicken." "'Dido _et dux_,'" said Enid.