“We’d better wait and have it on Easter Monday,” put in Babe. “We couldn’t get ready for it to-day, and to-morrow we’re going to the Cathedral in the morning and to the colored church in the afternoon. Besides, we could have more fun with it on a week-day.”
“Monday is all right, but how about the presents?” inquired Bob practically.
“Let me attend to that,” answered Mr. Wales. “I’ve picked up a few odds and ends among the islands that will be just the thing for an Easter tree.”
“I want to help a little,” put in Eleanor. She had heard Betty admiring a turtle with a polished back, that hung in a shop-window on Bay Street, and this would be a graceful way of giving it to her.
“Anybody may help who wants to,” decreed Mary, who, in her capacity of president and senior member of “The Merry Hearts,” had fallen into the habit of deciding such matters, “but no one must feel that she has to put anything on the tree, because we all contribute by just being down here, and that’s a pretty expensive contribution for most of us.”
“Won’t it be fun!” cried Babe enthusiastically. “Roberta must be mistress of ceremonies, and arrange the presents. Let’s have it the first thing Monday morning. Seems as if I couldn’t wait a whole day and a half to see it!”
“The Merry Hearts” spent Saturday afternoon shopping in small and mysterious parties of ones and twos. No one but Eleanor had much money to spend, and Eleanor felt that it would not be in good taste for her to spend much, except for Betty’s tortoise. But all the trifles added together made almost an embarrassment of riches for the mistress of ceremonies, who, as soon as Monday’s breakfast was over, ordered them piled on the ground near the Easter tree, and then banished everybody but Madeline from the back-yard.
When the tree was ready there was another brief delay because Mr. and Mrs. Wales had not arrived. But they came in a few minutes, and Dr. Eaton was with them.
“You ought to have let me know about this function sooner, Miss Brooks,” he began reproachfully. “I rushed around wildly in the few minutes that I had after Mr. Wales invited me to be present, but I haven’t had time to get very much.” He held out a bulky parcel to Roberta. “The nine things that are all alike are for you young ladies, and the two odd ones are for Mrs. Wales and the chaperon.”