"What do you mean, girls?" she wonderingly stammered, looking at Sadie Folger, who was kissing her hand in mock solemnity, and then at the others, still courtesying and saying, "Your Majesty." "Seems to me you're in fine spirits for Friday. I believe you've all got excused from composition class. Tell me. What is it? Has Mr. Gorham given us a holiday?" "Better than that!" they exclaimed, in one voice. "Don't keep me in suspense," pleaded Susie. "It's too good to keep," said Sadie; "but still, girls, we must tell it by degrees." Then, to Susie, "Well, we're going to have a May party!" "A May party! Splendid! Who--" "And," broke in one of the others, wondering if Susie's face _could_ look any brighter, "_you_ are to be our Queen." "Your Queen! Are you in earnest!" she cried, her eyes dancing with delight. "Whose party is it, and how do you know I'm to be Queen?" "Because we're all going to vote for you," they answered, ignoring the first part of the question. So Susie repeated, "But whose party is it? who is getting it up?" "All the teachers. We left Mr. Gorham talking to Miss Page and the rest. They had a meeting at half past eight, and we five happened to be here early; so after they had decided the matter, they told us one or two things, and before recess Mr. Gorham will tell the whole school." "But," said Susie, a trifle doubtfully, "then it's not certain I'm to be Queen?" "Just as good as certain," said Stella Morris; "for the choice is between Florence Tracy and yourself. Mr. Gorham says you stand exactly the same--three marks against each--and that the way to decide it will be by vote this afternoon." [Illustration: "I AM SURE YOU'LL HAVE EVERY VOTE."] "I am sure you'll have every vote," said Josie, confidently, "for we scarcely know Florence Tracy. She's _so_ quiet, and doesn't seem to care for anything but study. Not that I dislike her at all, for she's always pleasant enough; but still--_she isn't like you_," and she took Susie's arm in undisguised admiration. Susie was an acknowledged favorite, and it is needless to say she enjoyed this school-girl homage. Others had joined the group since they commenced talking, and each in turn had said, "You are sure of _my_ vote, Sue." "Thank you all," she answered, looking around gratefully. "I'm half in a dream. It seems too good to be true." "I've just been having another talk with Miss Page," called Sadie, bounding down the walk. "She knows more about it than any of the others, I guess, for she saw a May-day celebration at some place on the Hudson last summer. Every one in the school is to take part. The primary class are to dance round a May-pole; and then there are to be garland-bearers and maids of honor, so we'll all be something; but of course Susie will have the highest honor." Susie's happy look of a moment before was gone. That word _honor_ had set her to thinking.