And then, to her great surprise, luncheon was announced, and she found that her whole morning was gone and only one name on her list crossed off! * * * * * The club that met that afternoon in Mona's pretty sitting-room in the Plaza Hotel, consisted of only four girls--Patty, Mona, Elise, and Clementine Morse. It was thought wiser to start with a few earnest members and then enlarge the number later if it seemed advisable. "What a beautiful room!" said Clementine, as she tossed off her furs. "Don't you like it, Mona, to live in a big hotel like this, and yet have your own rooms, like a home all to yourself?" "Yes, I like it in some ways; but I'm alone a great deal. However, I would be that, if father and I lived in a house or an apartment." "You ought to have a companion of some sort, Mona," said Patty, who thought this a good opportunity to urge Mr. Galbraith's wishes. "No, thank you," and Mona tossed her head, disdainfully; "I know what companions are! Snoopy old maids who won't let you do anything, or careless, easy-going old ladies who pay no attention to you. If I could have a companion of my own age and tastes, I'd like that,--but I suppose that wouldn't do." "Hardly," said Elise, laughing; "that would only mean your father would have two troublesome girls to look after instead of one. And I daresay, Mona, you are quite as much as he can handle." "I suppose I am. But he's so good to me I'm afraid he spoils me. But come on, girls, let's organise our club." "Don't let's have too much organisation," said Clementine. "Do you know, I think lots of clubs, especially charity clubs, have so much organisation that they haven't anything else. One club I joined fell to pieces before it was fairly started, because the two vice-presidents squabbled so." "If there's anything I hate," declared Patty, "it's a squabble. Whatever else we girls do, let's try not to have any friction. Now, I know perfectly well that none of us four is _very_ meek or mild." "I am," declared Elise, assuming an angelic expression, which made them all laugh, for Elise was really the one most likely to take offence at trifles, or to flare up impulsively if any one disagreed with her. Patty knew this only too well, and was trying to forestall it by a preliminary treaty of peace. "Well, then, let's be an organisation that doesn't organise," said Mona, "but let's be it _now_." "I think," said Patty, "that our end and aim ought to be to do good to somebody who doesn't expect it. Now, that isn't quite what I mean,--I mean to people who wouldn't accept it if it seemed like charity, but to whom we could give a pleasure that they would really like." "Patty, my child," said Clementine, "I think your ideas are all right, but I must say you don't express them very clearly. Let's get down to something definite. Do you mean to give material things,--like presents or money?"