* * * * *

The worst was over in a few days, and then two cots were carried into Eugenia’s room for Lloyd and Joyce to occupy during the day.  The windows still had to be kept darkened, but the girls managed to find a great deal to amuse themselves with.  They would not have fared so well had it not been for Betty.  Many an hour she spent in the dim room, when the summer was calling to her on every breeze to come out in its sunshine and be glad in its cheer.  Many a game of checkers she played with the exacting invalids, when she longed to be riding over the country on Lad.  And she read aloud by the single ray of light admitted through the shutters, and told stories until her voice was husky.

“It’s fun, isn’t it?” said Eugenia, one day when they were waiting for their lunch to be brought up.  “I am always wondering what is coming next, for Cousin Elizabeth has never missed a day, sending up some surprise with our meals.  It is a continual surprise-party.”

“We’ll be dreadfully spoiled,” said Joyce, “like a little boy at home that I know.  He insists on keeping Christmas the year around.  As he is the only child, and they’d give him the moon if they could reach it, they let him hang up his stocking every night, and every morning there is a present in it for him.”

“Cousin Elizabeth is spoiling us just the same way,” said Eugenia.  “Those little souvenir spoons she sent up with the chocolate yesterday are perfect darlings.  I think the world of mine.”

“I wonder what the surprise will be to-day,” said Lloyd, as the jingling of silver and tinkling of ice in glasses sounded on the stairs.

“I know,” said Betty, running to open the door for the procession of tray bearers.  “It is conundrum salad.  I helped godmother make it.”

Eliot, Mom Beck, and the housemaid entered in solemn file, each bearing a tray containing a simple lunch, in the centre of which was a fancy plate containing a pile of crisp green lettuce.

“Isn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king!” exclaimed Joyce, examining her conundrum salad.  “Oh, girls, how that did fool me.  I could have sworn that those were real lettuce leaves, and they are only paper.  But what a clever imitation, and what a lot of conundrums written inside!”

“See if you can guess this one?” cried Eugenia.  “Isn’t it funny?” and she read a clever one that set them all to thinking.  There was much laughter when they finally had to give it up, and she told them the answer.

“Now listen to this,” said Lloyd next, and then it was Joyce’s turn, and the lunch was eaten in the midst of much laughing and many bright remarks that the salad called forth.