_Granny_. Well, I'm glad of that. (_Shakes her head._) Oh, but you do need regulating. And I shall do it. Never fear. Now let me see, you were talking about summer. Would you like to see how the birds keep summer?

That would help you a little.

_Several of the Girls_. Oh yes, indeed.

_Granny_ (_knocks on the floor. Door opens, and enter two little children dressed in blue_). Come in, my birds. Are all the other birds a.s.sembled to do my bidding?

_Blue Birds_:

We heard you call, yes, one and all, And we were sent, we two; So now, dear Lady, tell us, please, What you would have us do; For every little blue bird is Devoted quite to you.

_Granny_. Then fly, and find us the wood where the laurel grows thickest.

[_Exeunt birds._]

_Helen_ (_aside_). This is an interesting Old Woman, but I can't make her out.

_Agnes_. Nor I, one bit.

_Granny_. Shall I tell you my dream, young ladies?

_Girls_. Oh! do tell us your dream.

[Ill.u.s.tration: I SAW A FIGURE HUDDLED IN A CORNER.]

_Granny_. I was pa.s.sing through a long, deserted hall, when I heard sounds as of some one sobbing. In a side room, whose door was just ajar, entering, I saw a small figure huddled in a corner. The room was dark, and I drew a shutter, letting the light in upon a young girl. Yes, she was crying. I went softly to her, and touched her on the shoulder. "What ails you, dearie?" I said. "Oh, I am not in it," she wailed. I took a seat, and drew the poor child to me, and stroked her forehead, and chafed her little cold hands. "Not in what, sweetheart?" I said. "Not in the Club," she answered. "They are all in it but me." "But why are you not in it?" I said. And she answered. "Because my dresses are sober and old-fashioned. I am not bright and witty. I am plain. I believe I am dull in my studies, because the girls look at me so. I am frightened, and can't recite even when I know the lesson. Oh, I have not one friend in the cla.s.s." My little dear fell to crying again, and I had to take her in my arms, and kiss her, and comfort her a long time before she could tell me all of her story. "My mamma is dead," she said. "Those girls don't know how dreadful it is to lose their mammas. My uncle takes care of me, and he won't send me boxes of sweets, because he thinks they are hurtful. And he thinks girls ought to dress plainly and inexpensively. He has money enough. I have some money of my own, which my mother told my uncle to take care of for me till I was of age. If only I could make my uncle understand that I can't bear to be different from the rest of the girls. When the other girls go home in vacations, I stay here with the housekeeper. My uncle says I ought to be thankful for so good a home. But I'm not thankful. Oh, Granny, I want my mamma!"

Well girls, you may believe me, this poor child's story touched me very much, and I thought how I could help her. I asked her uncle's address and kissed her, and told her that Granny would be her friend, and we went out of that lonely dark room, her little heart comforted. Then I wrote to that uncle, and the result was-- But here come the Birds.

_Blanche_ (_to the other girls_). It begins to dawn on me what Granny's dream means.

_Morna_. It's Alice, of course.

_Granny_. Hush!

[_Enter_ Birds. _Eight blue birds, six red birds, six yellow birds. Each carries a cl.u.s.ter or wreath or basket of pink laurel._]

_Granny_. Go back, little birds, and find Flora, your Queen.

[_They rush off and return dragging a large chair draped with green cloth. Then they scamper out again._ Granny _blows a toy whistle. The door opens, and enter_ Alice, _beautifully dressed in white, a wreath of roses on her head, a small wand tipped with a rose in her hand. On each side of her a blue bird walks.

Behind, in pairs, all the others march. They go once around the room, and escort_ Alice _to her throne_. Granny _rises and makes a low bow_.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "HAIL, FLORA, QUEEN OF SUMMER!"]

_Granny_. Hail, Flora, Queen of Summer!

Hail, Flora, Queen off Summer! all Nature speaks your praises; She spells them in her violets, and twines them with her daisies.

For you the lances lift of countless gallant gra.s.ses!

To you all fragrant odors drift, where'er your footstep pa.s.ses.

Come make your subjects glad, these loyal hearts that love you!

Nor let a single-thought be sad, while bright the skies above you.

_Granny_. And now, my birds, have you not an offering for your Queen?

[_The birds march gayly around the room: as they pa.s.s_ Flora, _each set pauses_.]

_Blue Birds_:

This time instead of laurel we bring you violets.

_Yellow Birds_:

And we have gathered roses, the flower for coronets.

_Red Birds_:

And we the little lily bells no loving heart forgets.

_Granny_. You see, dear Flora, how we all love you.

_Flora_. Thanks.

For the violets and the roses, The laurel bright and rare, And for the valley-lilies sweet, And the flowers all so fair, As well as for your loving words, I thank you, Granny; thank you, Birds.

And now, as I am Queen, I may invite you all to a little feast. The Birds will serve it. Strawberries and cream, cake and bonbons. As mistress of the fete, I am happy to serve the lovely Ninepin Club.

Birds, help the girls.

_Blanche_. Girls, do eat these lovely things if you can. As for me, they would choke me.

_Felicia_. I cannot eat them.

_Granny_. You must not refuse, girls. Flora would be hurt.

_Blanche_. Well, then. But, first, as President of the Club, let me speak. I confess our fault. We have been harsh, cold, and cruel. We have treated our cla.s.smate shamefully. But believe me, Granny, we did not suppose we were inflicting pain. We were inexcusably thoughtless. For one, I ask Alice--

_Granny_. Flora, your Queen.

_Blanche_. I ask Flora's forgiveness. And I want some one in the Club to make a motion that Alice--Flora--be asked to join the Club.

_Annette_. I make that motion, and I want to say that I agree with our President in thinking we have acted shamefully. Forgive me, if you can, Alice--Flora. I mean.

_Agnes_. I second the motion, and I want to say that I never was so ashamed of anything in my life.

_Blanche_. All in favor of this motion say aye.

_All_. Aye!