The Queen's Banquet

The Queen's Banquet 100,000 players "Oh, Doris!" was all she found to say, as she stretched eager hands toward her.,Elinor and Judith were very enthusiastic over the intent, studious figure that bent over its book in such lifelike fashion.,So I hurried and stuffed the grey-blue darling in the top tray, lapped the old black silk around my waist and belted it in with a black belt off a new green linen I had bought for morning walks—down to the butcher's in the High Street, I suppose. That is about the only morning dissipation in Hillsboro that I can think of, and it all depends on whom you meet, how much of a dissipation it is.,After breakfast, therefore, the major wrote two notes. One for Arkel, asking him to be at "Ashantee" by noon, as the writer had important matters to discuss; the other for Etwald, requesting him to call and see Jaggard, who, added Jen, significantly in the letter, had recovered his senses. Having thus prepared his trap for the doctor to walk into, Jen delivered the letters to Battersea, with instructions to set off at once for Deanminster. The tramp, anxious to keep in favor with Jen for cupboard reasons, lost no time in departing, and when the major had seen him safely out of the gates, he took his way toward "The Wigwam" for the all-important interview with Dido.,They followed the general exodus upstairs, feeling more and more at home with every step.，"Dido?"，"Well, I just guess it isn't any game," retorted Judith with a toss of her mane. "It's the most important thing in life to me," and she stalked off towards the door with great dignity.，"Hush!" said Elinor in an undertone. "Don't make a fuss. There's Doris Leighton waving to us from the model stand. She looks awfully well, doesn't she? Her little vacation——""Yes, to see you," she replied, with a serious face. "In order to talk with you about my last visit--on that terrible night."

Jaggard saluted and vanished, while his master walked up and down the room, fuming at the loss of the curiosity. He had all the talk to himself, for Maurice, whose mind was busy with conjectures as to Dido or Dr. Etwald being the thief, did not think it necessary to speak. In a few minutes Jaggard returned with the news that none of the servants had been in the smoking-room that evening.,"But you don't mean to say that she believes in it!","I am not in love with Lady Meg, my dear fellow," said he, sharply; "but if you must know, I admire"--this with emphasis--"Miss Dallas.","I believe she'll like it," declared Elinor, confidently. "She does so love variety—and she has entered into everything already with such a vim.",Most parties are just bunches of selfish people who go off in the corners and have good times all by themselves; but in Hillsboro it is not that way. Everybody that is not invited helps the hostess get ready and have nice things for the others, and sometimes I think they really have the best time of all.,"I think it would be perfectly glorious," she said gratefully. "It's wonderful that you should bother with us. I can't thank you——","If she's going to be a writer, she'll drop her dignified pose soon enough," predicted Elinor easily. "She'll be too much interested in other people and things to remember herself too vividly.",Leaf I. The Bachelor's-Buttons.,"I've been going so slow for so many years that I've turned round and I'm going fast backward," I said with a blush that I couldn't help.,"Of course," returned Griffin, shortly. "She had other reports to make. She usually stays about half an hour, she'll be longer today. Why?",But Patricia shrank from appearing too magnanimous.,When he vanished round the curve of the drive, Isabella, with a very pale face, turned toward Dido..