Dorothy Dainty's Gay Times

te, and at recess time she declared that she was n

ollie; "this is the only one I've ever be

lau

in one school, but we moved, and I had to go to another one.

reless. She knew many games, and as soon

ith as a boy," said Reginald

er'n boys; you said so t

, but his cousin Katie stood behind Arabella, shaking her head, and

would have liked to say, but Katie mig

ils, she decided to be just a bit friendly toward her, and L

abella now seemed really t

games at recess, and took more intere

d, and hoped that Arabella'

made for the first entertainment, and that rehearsals would commence that afternoon. A l

nette are learning a new duet for the piano, and I should be pleased to have that for another number on our pro

there was another little murmur of delight,

ey were to give, and of the fine times which they would have at the afternoon rehearsals, and after scho

oy, that's Reginald," said Mollie, "a

tone, and tied the ribbons

e you going to sa

I was going to say that I know I'm just wild to h

Jeanette said, "for we are to come back

gerly watching Aunt Charlotte, as she opened her

s dialogue," she said. "Eight of the characters are school girls, o

boy here," said Reginald; "you

at this speech as hea

w who'll be whi

harlotte will tell u

n as being taller than the school girls, so I will give that par

nette said quickly, and she glanced

whispered Nina to Lola. Nina felt almost a

ly been given leading parts, but e

ing, "and oh, Aunt Charlotte, do tell her to let

braided," Aunt Charlotte agreed, "and

d Nancy, and Jean

e other parts were assigned, Aunt Charlotte choosing

s Jeanette had been chosen for the fairy queen, she left the g

called

cried. "We're going to

aces, and Arabella turne

id Aunt Charlotte, "and I will copy each part carefully, that each can memorize all th

ough the girls laughed, they were

the avenue they talked of the pretty dialogue

said Reginald, "for I

id Jeanette, and she held her head very

Nancy said, "and we'll h

her books in her desk, and was

," Aunt Charlotte said, as Arabella

ly, but hurried

arlotte said, as she looked af

of her lines, and Wednesday of the ne

said Jeanette, as she walked along

and the first rehearsal

re. Aunt Charlotte will have the boo

to run in right after the fairy, and sa

or Aunt Charlotte wouldn't let you. You said it just as i

d you needn't laugh. It make

gin

d the small boy, "an' Ar

said Jeanette, "but it doesn't prove

d that Nancy was to do a lovely fancy dance for one number on the prog

prove of dancing," she sai

a doesn't have to dance

was naughty, but trul

s music," said Nina; "D

ella replied, "but she doesn't like dancing, I know,

her'd let you lea

less Aunt Matil

ve Aunt Matildas?"

heard what he said, although he

ry carefully, and as they walked down the avenue they re

Reginal

; I've left my ball

tie said, "you won'

going after it," said Reginal

Katie said, "but you can

did not hear what Katie said. He pushed open the litt

he said to Aunt Charlotte,

ld rushed past her, and hurried to his desk. The ball was n

he declared to Aunt Charlotte, who ha

sure of that?"

et it," he said, his blue eyes wide with surprise, "and now it is

ing very like tears in his eyes, altho

ropped to the floor, and rolled away into some shadowy corner, or behind the draperies. It is almost twi

e way home, he saw neither of his schoolmates. He had hunted so long for the

road to see if he were coming, and then they had become so inter

to learn if his ball had been found, that he started early, intending to be the f

n he remembered that he had left both

he paused, wondering if he might borrow books

poken of promptness at school, and at the same time sai

ht careless; he would run back to the

e was losing, instead of gaining time. The uneven ground and coarse grass were much harder to run over than the fine, hard

ad left them and hurried past the

ught I see yer go out to sch

s," he replied, looking over his

eld," he said in disgust. "It must ha

he bend of the road where, between trees and

e thought, when at that moment he not

orryville, but wh

nd a bush which overhung the

as reaching down as if trying to get something that w

g down as if to

was doing, and he knew that if he

oo. He knew that he must be quite late, f

e entered the door just as A

e, too," sh

singing, and the two we

Aunt Charlotte qu

d going back for them made me late. I ran '

eason as that is excusab

were late,

lda," said Arabella, as gli

whispered Reginald, but

hould have detained her. Surely the maid could have given all necessary assist

e determined to wait until he had a fine chance, and then he would look over that wall. He believed

ed Aunt Charlotte if

l was not i

mistaken," she said, "the

" the boy insisted, "

has disappeared, and hunt as I will, I cannot find it. You have your parts c