"What?" And Allie looked at her friend, in astonishment at so daring a proposal.
"Yes, I'll give her a party," repeated Marjorie, nodding her head with decision.
"But do you suppose she'd like it?" inquired Allie dubiously.
"Of course she will. She 'most always has one for me on my birthday, you know," returned Marjorie; "and she wouldn't do that, if she didn't like them. She never had one herself; but that's only because she didn't have anybody to give her one."
Such logic was not to be resisted; and Allie felt her misgivings swept away while she listened.
"Besides," Marjorie went on enthusiastically; "I heard her say to papa, last night, that they'd take that very day to go over to Butte, and buy the new parlor carpet. They'll go in the morning early, and not come back till five, so that will just give us time, while they're out of the way. You'll help me get ready for it, won't you, Allie?"
"If mamma will let me," Allie was beginning, when Marjorie interrupted,—
"Your mother mustn't know anything about it; but we won't go to Mrs. Hammond that morning, we'll come here instead."
"I'm afraid we oughtn't to do that," remonstrated Allie feebly, although she was secretly longing to enter into the proposition.
"Why not?" demanded Marjorie. "Mamma gave up going to missionary meeting, last year, to get ready for my birthday party, and this is just the same thing. Don't be silly, Allie, but help me plan. I know mamma would say 'twas right," she added with an air of self-sacrificing virtue; "to give up our own improvement for the sake of making her happy."