"Take care of messing that fan, dear; you are painting in that red poppy very nicely," answered Janet. "Well, girls, I have made up my mind."
"Yes, Janey, yes; what about?" they all answered.
"Our stall is to be far and away the most beautiful at the Fancy Fair."
"Three cheers!" exclaimed the children, but then Alice said in a wistful tone:
"I don't see how it can be, Janet, for we are none of us rich. I heard Dolly say this morning that Evelyn's stall would certainly be far and away the best, for she was the only one of us who had money."
"Evelyn may not have a stall at all," said Janet, "but, in any case, if you six little girls will back me, and if Olive—I can answer for Olive that she will do her best—if Olive will help also, our stall will be the richest and the most lovely at the fair. Will you trust me to manage this, children?"
"Of course, Janet!" replied Nora, her eyes sparkling.
"Now I tell you what," said Janet, "I know pretty well what the other girls are doing. Frances Murray's girls are going in for the sober and useful; Dorothy Collingwood's are working with a will on the same dull lines. Poor old Ruth—oh, I'm not disparaging her—can't rise above her patchwork quilts, whereas we, we alone, have embraced ART. Girls, the combination of art and money will produce the most lovely stall at the fair. Now I have spoken! You stick to me, girls, and keep your secret to yourselves. Say nothing, but determine, every one of you, to do her utmost, not only for little Tim, but for the glory of the 'Janet May Stall.'"
"We will, we will!" said the children.
They were quite impressed by Janet's enthusiasm, and looked upon their own humble little efforts in the great field of art with some awe.