"Why, how funny," said Marian; "I've always heard of Locky Ann Daggett, but I never knew anything about her, except that she's very old and very queer." "She's a sort of humourous character," said Guy Morris; "strong-minded, you know, and eccentric, but not half bad. I quite like the old lady, though I almost never see her." "No; she doesn't seem to care to see people," said Patty. "She seems to have no taste for society. Why, I don't suppose she'd care to take part in our play, even if we invited her." "Oh, what about the play?" said Elsie. "Have you really decided to have a play, instead of that stupid old fair?" "We haven't decided anything," said Patty, "we can't until the club meets to-morrow." "Oh, do have a play," said Frank, "and then us fellows can take part. We couldn't do anything at a bazaar, except stand around and buy things." "And we're chuck-full of histrionic talent," put in Guy. "You ought to see me do Hamlet." "Yes," said Frank, "Guy's Hamlet is quite the funniest thing on the face of the earth. I do love comedy." "So do I," said Guy, "I just love to play a side-splitting part like Hamlet." "Then you may have a chance," said Marian, "for one of the plays we're thinking about--and it isn't exactly a play either--brings in a whole lot of tragic characters in a humourous way. It's a general mix-up, you know: Hamlet, and Sairy Gamp, and Rip Van Winkle, and Old Mother Hubbard, and everybody." "Yes, that's a good one," said Marian; "it's called 'Shakespeare at the Seashore.'" "The name is enough to condemn that piece," said Mr. Fairfield; "not one of you can say it straight." And sure enough, though numerous attempts were made, and much laughter ensued, none entirely successful. CHAPTER XI PREPARATIONS With the instincts of a true hostess, Patty had slipped from the room unobserved, and had held a short Confab with her two trusty servitors in the kitchen. "But, Miss Patty," expostulated Mancy, "dey ain't nuffin' fit to set befo' dem fren's ob yo's. Dey ain't nuffin' skacely in de house, ceptin' some bits ob candies an' cakaroons le' from yo' las' night's supper." "Well, that's all right," said Patty; "let Pansy arrange those nicely on the dining-room table. Use the silver dishes, Pansy, and fix them just as I told you." "Yes, Miss Patty," said Pansy, "but there aren't very many left." "Well, then, Mancy, I'll tell you what: you make us a nice pot of chocolate, and fix us some thin bread and butter, and cut up some of the fruit cake to put with those little fancy cakes; won't that do?" "Yas'm, I spec' so; but it's a mighty slim layout, 'specially for dem hearty young chaps. But you go 'long, honey, I'll fix it somehow."