“Well, now what are we to give her as a wedding present?” said Polly Pepper. “You know we, as the committee, ought to talk it over at once. Let's sit down on the floor in a ring and begin.”
“Yes,” said Alexia; “now all flop.” And setting the example, she got down on the floor; and the girls tumbling after, the ring was soon formed.
“Hush now, do be quiet, Clem, if you can,” cried Alexia, to pay up old scores.
“I guess I'm not making as much noise as some other people,” said Clem, with a wry face.
“Well, Polly's going to begin; and as she's chairman, we've all got to be still as mice. Hush!”
“I think,” said Polly, “the best way would be, instead of wasting so much time in talking, and—”
“Getting into a hubbub,” interpolated Alexia.
“Who's talking now,” cried Clem triumphantly, “and making a noise?”
“Getting in confusion,” finished Polly, “would be, for us each to write out the things that Miss Anstice might like, on a piece of paper, without showing it to any of the other girls; then pass them in to me, and I'll read them aloud. And perhaps we'll choose something out of all the lists.”
“Oh, Polly, how fine!—just the thing.”