Lola Blessington sat beside Nancy, and many of the older guests watched the two as they talked together, and thought how charming they were, and how very unlike.

Lola’s blue eyes were merry, and her sea-nymph’s costume was very becoming, while Nancy’s fine dark eyes and graceful figure never looked prettier than in her lovely shepherdess frock.

At Nancy’s right sat Dorothy, and her beautiful little face showed the joy that was in her heart.  She was always happiest when giving pleasure to others.

And when at last the feast had been enjoyed, more merry games had been played, and tripping feet had danced to lively measures, then the great hall clock hands pointed to the hour, and the guests remembered that it was quite time to be thinking of home.

A surprise awaited the merrymakers, for when good-nights had been said, and they stepped out into the crisp air, they shouted with delight, for lo, while they had been in the warm, flower-scented rooms, a snowstorm had been covering the steps, the gardens, the avenue with a white velvet carpet!

“Hurrah!” shouted Reginald, “this is the first snowstorm, and there’ll be fun every day as long as it lasts.”

Long icicles hung like diamond pendants from roof and balcony, and still the snow-flakes like downy feathers were falling lazily, as if they knew not whether to pause, or to continue to descend.

And when the last carriage had rolled down the driveway Dorothy turned, and clasping Nancy’s hands, she said: 

“Oh, there never was such a perfect party!  We’ll always remember it.”

“Always,” said Nancy.

There were two thoughts, two pictures in her mind.  She was thinking of Dorothy’s first party, when, as a little outcast, she had climbed up into the branches of a tree which overhung the great garden, that thus she might peep at the lovely children in their beautiful frocks; now, as Dorothy’s friend and playmate, she had enjoyed this fancy dress party, in a costume as charming as that of any guest.

She was happy now, and how dearly she loved Dorothy, how grateful she was for her home and friends!

For days they talked of nothing but the party, and Aunt Charlotte found it a little difficult to keep them from whispering about it during school hours.

Three little guests who had intended to come, had, at the last moment, been obliged to remain at home.  They were Mr. Dainty’s nephews, and they had been much disappointed in losing a charming visit in which a fine party was to have been included.

Patricia, with her usual lack of sweetness, told Arabella that she did not believe that those three boys had ever thought of coming.

“Well, anyway, we were there, and we had a fine time, but say,—­there weren’t two fountains after all!” said Arabella.

“Why, what a thing to say, when I showed you the second one, only it didn’t work right,” Patricia replied.  “The way I turned it made steam, so if I’d only just turned it the other way it would have been water.”