THE BOOK PARTY One evening as they all sat in the pleasant library, Cousin Elizabeth announced her intention of giving a party for Patty. "I am afraid," she said, kindly, "that you find it dull with us. We are all so busy with our club work and study, that we have really neglected your entertainment. I am sorry for this, and I mean to give you more youthful pleasures during the remainder of your stay with us." Patty was delighted, for life at the Flemings _was_ a little bit humdrum for her, though her aunt and cousins were very kind whenever they had time to remember her existence. They all fell in with Elizabeth's plan, and began to discuss what kind of a party it should be. Patty was secretly much amused at the contrast between plans for a party at Villa Rosa, and in Boston. Nothing was said about decorations, and the supper was not mentioned, except when Cousin Elizabeth said she would order some cake and ice cream from a confectioner; and as to dresses, well, _they_ seemed never to be even thought of by the Fleming ladies. Patty wore the plainest of the clothes her Aunt Isabel had bought for her, but even those were far finer than Ruth's. Apparently the difference was not noticed, for no one paid the slightest attention to what any one wore. The Fleming ladies were always dressed neatly and inconspicuously, but Patty concluded they must pick their dresses off of trees, for nothing was ever said about dressmakers or purchase of materials. So when the party was talked about, all discussion was concerning the entertainment of the minds of the young guests. Intellectual games were proposed, and even Ruth grew almost excited over the scheme of a "Quotation Salad." But Cousin Elizabeth said, "Games are not enough. I want something more like a character party. Ah, I have it. Let us ask each guest to represent some children's book, or some favorite character in juvenile literature." "Just the thing," exclaimed Barbara; "Eddie can be 'Little Lord Fauntleroy.'" Eddie was a neighbor's child, who had long flaxen curls and who would make a perfect counterpart of the pictures of Fauntleroy. The Flemings all entered into the plan of the party with their usual enthusiasm, and found time between their numerous engagements to prepare quite a programme of entertainment. A platform was put up in the library, with curtains to draw in front of it, and as this was done very easily and quickly, Patty rightly judged it had often been done before.