Olive, whose unrest made her captious and pettish at times, was sometimes inclined to be jealous of her twin-sister, and angry with Monica for "taking up" with Elsa, instead of being content with her alone, as used to be the case. But when she expostulated with Monica, as she did occasionally, the answer she invariably received, was, "I am just as fond of you as ever, Ollie, you know that quite well; but you see Elsa _understands_, and you don’t _yet_; that’s why I must have a talk with her sometimes." And Olive, angry with herself for falling short of her friend’s expectations, but not willing to take the same step as Monica and Elsa had done, felt that the explanation was even worse than the offence! *CHAPTER XXIII.* *"IT’S ALL SURPRISES, NOWADAYS!"* "Now, let’s get to business." And the quartette, _alias_ the "China Committee," as Amethyst had playfully nicknamed them, gathered round the large table in the vicarage playroom and began to consider ways and means. "I’ve got a box full of patterns, and a long letter from Miss Daverel," began Monica, who had been elected president by virtue of her munificent gift towards the Expenses Fund, and who in consequence, occupied the "chair" at the head of the table. "Let us look at each thing, and I’ll read to you how it’s made, and then we’ll decide whether we can undertake to make some like it, or not." Half an hour was spent in admiring and examining the eighteen or twenty pretty and useful little "gifts," any, or all, of which, Miss Daverel said would be so acceptable to Chinese girls. Simply made children’s clothing, a gaily dressed doll, bright knitted cuffs, a bookmarker, a woollen ball, a gay cretonne bag (containing a thimble, cotton, tiny pair of scissors and a pincushion), a knitted comforter, small Scripture pictures mounted on card--these were some of the articles the box contained. "Most of them are quite easy to make," said Amethyst, who was keenly interested; "I should like to make a work-bag best, I think." "I like dressing dolls," said Elsa, who was carefully examining the clothes of the sample she held in her hand. "Oh, doll’s clothes are awfully finicking to make!" was Olive’s opinion; "but I think I could paste pictures on cards, like that. What shall you make, Monica?" "I don’t know, I’m sure. I am not much good at needlework. Perhaps I could knit a scarf, or some cuffs. But we must think about going to market first. Who will make a list of what we want?" "I will." And Olive produced a pencil and paper with alacrity, and by dint of many references to Miss Daverel’s directions, for quantities, a list of requisites sufficient to start with was eventually drawn up. "Now about a working-party, Monica. When shall we begin, and whom shall we ask to join?"