Milly Fosdick won that prize, and they all laughed when it turned out to be a straw hat of Indian make.  It was of gay pattern basket work, and adorned with beads and feathers.  Milly was delighted with it, and said she should always keep it as a souvenir.

By that time the ladies had completed their task, and the prize for the Good Luck hunt fell to Hester Corey.  This was the prettiest prize of all, being a beautifully illustrated copy of Grimms’ “Fairy Tales,” and Hester was enchanted with it.  She took it eagerly, and never seemed to think for a moment that perhaps it wasn’t quite fairly won; nor did she thank Marjorie for the assistance she gave.

Then they all went out to supper.  And such a supper as it was!  The table was decorated with green four-leafed clovers, and gilt horseshoes, and black cats, and yellow new moons.  And every one had a little rabbit’s foot, mounted like a charm, for a souvenir; and also a bright lucky penny of that very year.

And the sandwiches were cut like clovers, and the cakes like new moons, and the ice-cream was shaped like horseshoes, and everybody wished everybody else good luck all through Marjorie’s thirteenth year.  And when the young guests went away they all sang: 

    “Good luck, ladies; good luck, ladies;
    Good luck, ladies;
      We’re going to leave you now.”

CHAPTER XIV

QUEEN HESTER

“Kit’s my bestest birthday present,” declared Marjorie, as they sat together in the veranda swing the morning after the party.

Kitty pulled her sister’s curls in absent-minded affection, and remarked, thoughtfully: 

“Mopsy, I don’t seem to care much for that red-headed Hester girl.”

“She’s a queer thing,” Marjorie returned, “but I sort of like her, too.  You see, Kit, she has a fearful temper, and she can’t help being spiteful.”

“Oh, fiddlesticks, Mops!  Anybody can help being spiteful if they want to.”

“No, she can’t, Kit.  She flies into a rage over nothing.  And then she’s sorry afterward.”

“Will she be at the Sand Court thing, or whatever you call it, to-day?”

“Yes, all the club will be there.  Come on, let’s go.”

The sisters ran down to Sand Court and found King and the Craig boys already there.

“Old Crosspatch hasn’t come yet,” observed Dick, after they had all said “Hello!”

“Dick,” said Midget, “I wish you wouldn’t call our Sand Witch such unkind names.”

“Well, she is a crosspatch.”

“Well, never mind if she is.  Don’t let’s call names, anyway.”

And then Hester arrived.  It was easily seen she was prepared for a fray.  She was not smiling, and she said “Hello” with a very sour expression of face.  Then she turned to Midget.

“Did you make me a new crown?” she said.  “Are you going to let me be Queen?”