But Nan was in full swing now, and too absorbed in her story to be aware of the little court that had gathered around her. Joe Tracy's eyes followed her every movement with greedy interest, and when she at length imitated the flapping wings of the clucking hen he simply shouted with laughter and clapped his hands vigorously, quite lost to all but his appreciation and sense of the fun of the thing. It seemed to remind him of something similar in his own experience, for he immediately started in on a description of his own, and Nan sat listening in her turn with rapt attention. Every now and then a shout of laughter would come from the group in the distant corner, and the girls longed to go over and join in the fun. "Listen to John Gardiner 'haw-haw!'" cried Mary Brewster. "Don't the Buckstone twins give funny little giggles?" interposed Louie. "Why can't we go over and listen too?" suggested Ruth. So they all, even Grace Ellis and Mary Brewster, went softly toward the alluring corner, and were just in time to catch the end of Joe Tracy's story, which was so witty that John Gardiner swayed back and forward with delight and shook the room with his hearty laugh, and the Buckstone girls' giggle joined in like a shrill accompaniment. It had all come about so naturally that Joe Tracy did not realize that he had been orating to a roomful, and he did not seem to mind it at all when he discovered that he and Nan had had an audience. His shyness was quite gone and his face was radiant with enjoyment. The piano and violins started in again, and Miss Blake was heard inviting bulky Tom Porter to escort her down to supper. Of course, Nan had known all along that there would be something to eat, but she had not dreamed of such a spread as this. It made her eyes shine and her cheeks glow to hear such whispered words as these: "Yes, indeed! Aren't you?" "Far and away the jolliest one yet!" "Do get me some more salad, won't you, please? It's the best I ever ate!" "Up-and-down jolly time. A fellow likes to be made feel at home like this." Miss Blake, who without seeming to be watching any one, saw that every one was well supplied, kept a constant eye on Nan, and at last, on the strength of what she discovered, thought it was time to interfere. "Now sit down, my dear," she commanded softly, coming up behind the girl and touching her gently on the arm. "You are getting all tired out and having nothing to eat yourself. Every one is served and the waiters will look out for the rest. I have saved a place for you in the corner beside Louie and Ruth. So go now and rest and eat and enjoy yourself. You must not be the only one at your party who is neglected." Nan gave her a grateful look and dashed off toward Louie and Ruth who were beckoning wildly to her to come. They had so much to tell that they almost forgot their plates in their eagerness to talk. "Grace Ellis is just wild to come over here," confided Louie.