"I shall never tell," declared Miss Billy.
Four great stacks of smoking cakes were carried into the dining room, where Miss Billy's chafing dish was already burning. Mrs. Lee had evidently lent her assistance, for added to Theodore's menu was a large plate of sandwiches and a pitcher of hot chocolate.
The hungry people gathered around the table; and the brown pancakes, covered with butter and smothered in maple syrup, received much commendation. While they were at the table the doorbell rang. Mrs. Lee, who had answered the bell, came into the dining room with a large basket in her hand, and a puzzled expression on her face.
"There was no one at the door," she said. "Only this basket. It has your name on it, Wilhelmina."
Miss Billy lifted the cover and peered in. "What on earth!" she began. She lifted out a curious little package labelled "Miss Margaret Van Courtland." "This is evidently for you," she said as she peered in again. "But there are a whole lot of others. One for each of us." She distributed the parcels to the party, while Margaret dubiously opened the square bundle that had been handed to her.
A small pasteboard box labelled "Burke's Peerage" was exposed to view. The following poem accompanied it:
"A maiden named Peggy Van C——
Sailed far from New York State and me!
And she played the pianner,
And won prize and banner,
In ev'ry conservato-ree.
"But my honest American name
She spurned to my sorrow and shame,
For she said 'I shan't marry
With Tom, Dick and Harry,
I'm looking for much higher game.
"'With my excellent banking account
To royalty's height I may mount.'
She ran into her fate,
But discovered too late
He was called in Burke's book—no (a) count."
"Congratulations, Ted," said Margaret. "I recognise your dainty touch in this."
Ted looked innocent.
"Why should all blame and anger dread
Fall straight upon my luckless head?"