Iris looked searchingly at the pretty, but pert face. Then she said;
"Be kind, be good, be sweet, be true, and all the world shall smile on you."
"Oh, I don't mean that way!" said Gwen in disgust.
"If you do as I tell you, you will be beautiful," said Iris.
"Why, I'm beautiful now! My mamma says so!" cried Gwen. The children stared in amazement at the child who could make such a silly speech.
For a second no one spoke. To relieve the situation, Captain Atherton spoke.
"I think Queen Iris has granted your wishes most wisely. Now, let me present to you the little Goddess of Plenty."
He drew aside a brocade hanging and disclosed a huge half blown rose.
Its large petals commenced to open, and from its center sprang Rose Atherton, a "horn of plenty" in her hands, filled with bonbons. Laughing gaily, she lifted her hands filled with bonbons and tossed them into the center of the room.
Many of them were caught, so that few fell to the floor. Wrapped in tinsel, they shone like stars as they caught the light, and the boys and girls vied with each other, laughing as they tried to see which would be lucky, and secure the largest number.