"It is going to be a success," she predicted joyously. "It seems as though the people would never stop coming, and when we've sold every one of these packages at ten cents each, Cherry Street Improvement Club will have at least fifteen dollars in its treasury. John Thomas, I'm the happiest girl in the world to-night!" "And the prettiest,"--said John Thomas admiringly, sitting back in the grass, and taking in her appearance critically, from the pink bow on the top of her head to the toe of her black slipper. "Now, that isn't like you," said Miss Billy reprovingly. "Usually you don't pay compliments, because you are too truthful; but you haven't seen Beatrice. She's in shimmery white, with a heavenly thing thrown over her head. And oh, John Thomas, the dearest, sweetest, handsomest girl in the world, with the darkest eyes and the waviest hair, will be here presently. It is Margaret Van Courtland. She's just home from Germany, and she is coming to the social to-night." "Well, you suit me all right," said John Thomas, returning to his packages with a determined air. Then he added sullenly, "I'd be feelin' all right, too, to-night, if it wasn't for that darn Francis Lindsay." Miss Billy gasped in astonishment. "Why, what in the world has Francis been doing to you?" "Nothin'," said John Thomas, with a noncommittal air. "But you said you didn't like him," persisted Miss Billy, in bewilderment. "Do you?" "Why, of course I do! I think he's elegant, and--and gentlemanly, and handsome, and everything! I don't see what you can have against him." John Thomas made no reply, but went stubbornly on putting the packages into the clothes baskets, and Miss Billy sat flat on the grass to think the matter over. "Now you are the second one," she went on, "that has an unreasonable grudge against Francis. There is Beatrice,--she treats him horridly. To-day when we were getting things ready, if she had to hand him a nail, she'd draw up her lips and give it to him as if he were a cat. It's horrid of Bea,--and I've had to take her to task about it more than once. And do you know, in spite of it all, I believe Francis likes her immensely." "He seems to like other girls immensely, too," said John Thomas, from the depths of the basket. "Oh, but not like that!" said Miss Billy with conviction. "When she is out of the room, he watches for her return,--and when she is in the room, though he talks to me, he looks at _her_. But you must never--never breathe it, John Thomas. Beatrice would faint at the very idea, and she'd never forgive me! It must be a dead secret between you and me." "Is this straight goods you're giving me?" demanded John Thomas, rising to his full height and gazing down at Miss Billy, seated on the grass. "Why, I've never had any love affairs of my own. I never had anybody look hard at me, or take snubs cheerfully, or anything of that kind, you know. But as I said before, it's my conviction it is true."