“Only one other girl beside yourselves has had the honor of receiving an invitation.”

“Miriam?” queried Grace, unable to conceal a shade of disappointment in her tone.

“No, no; not Miriam,” answered Miriam’s brother.

Grace looked relieved.  If Miriam joined the party, something unpleasant was sure to happen.  Miriam treasured a spite against Anne for winning the freshman prize, and never treated her with civility when they chanced to meet.  Grace knew, too, that Miriam’s attitude toward her was equally hostile.  She wondered if David knew all these things about his sister.

Whatever he did know of Miriam and her deep-laid plans and schemes, he divulged to no one.  None of the girls had ever heard him say a word against his sister; although they felt that he deeply disapproved of her jealousy and false pride.

“You haven’t guessed her name yet,” smiled David.  “She is one of my best friends, girls.  She has been my sweetheart ever since I was a young man of five.  She’s one of the prettiest girls in Oakdale, she’s sixty years young, and her name is——­”

“Dear Mrs. Gray, of course!” exclaimed Grace delightedly.

“And has she accepted your invitation?” asked Anne.

“She has,” replied David, “and will come in her coach and four, or rather her carriage and two.  You ordinary mortals will be obliged to walk, I fear.”

“But why does she use her ‘coach and four,’ When she lives in the palace just next door?” rhymed Nora.

“Very good, my child,” commented David.  “However, what I was about to say was this:  My party is not to be in a house.  It is an open-air party.  We are to meet at the Omnibus House, to-morrow afternoon at four o’clock.  Two very distinguished gentlemen have also been invited—­Mr. Reddy Brooks and Mr. Hippy Wingate.”

A shout of laughter went up from the girls

“Distinguished, indeed,” cried Nora.  “It will be a delightful party I am sure.”

“Shall we bring food for Hippy!”

“No,” laughed David.  “Let him eat the apples he finds on the ground.  If we feed him on every festive occasion he will soon be too fat to walk, and we shall have to roll him about on casters.”

“What a terrible fate,” said Anne smiling.

“Well, girls? do you promise to attend?”

“Yes? indeed!” cried the four girls.

“Be sure not to surprise us with a disappointment.”

“The main thing is not to disappoint you with the surprise,” were his parting words.

“If all boys were as nice as David the world would be a better place!” exclaimed Grace.  “I suppose you can guess what the object of this party is.”

“Never mind, don’t mention it,” said Jessica in a low tone.  “Here come some other girls, and if they knew what we know, there would be a multitude instead of a select, private party at the Omnibus House to-morrow.”

CHAPTER IV