human
It is very exciting, said Nan to Mary Lee when they had taken the first decided move.
gpt
I keep thinking of all sorts of things to do and of people to ask for contributions. Do you suppose, Mary Lee, it would do to ask grandmother? I shouldn't in the least mind asking Aunt Helen.
human
I wouldn't ask them for the world,
gpt
But it isn't for ourselves.
human
I don't care; it's asking just the same isn't it?
gpt
Yes, that's so, and I made up my mind never to ask them for the least thing.
human
It's all very well to be friends with them, I suppose, said her sister.
gpt
I mean to be polite to them if I ever meet them, but I don't think we ought to place ourselves under obligations to them in the smallest way.
human
Oh, well, sighed Nan,
gpt
Give the money for something else: home missions or traveling libraries or something. We shall have had the fun anyhow,
human
I'll make a lot of panuchee, Nan went on,
gpt
It will be a little more trouble to have the fancy table, but if we find people want to give things of that kind we can have it. We'll ask Cousin Polly.
human
And _where_ shall we have it?
gpt
I am sure I don't know, she replied.
human
No one wants to give up a room big enough.
gpt
If mother were only here, sighed Nan,
human
Then suddenly the girl gave a little squeal and clutched Mary Lee's arm.
gpt
I know, she cried.
human
Why didn't we think of it before? We'll have nothing to pay for it and it will not put any one to inconvenience, and it will be as if we really had it ourselves as we wanted to do in the first place. We can use the old wing.
gpt
Of course we can, said Mary Lee.
human
It will be just the place. There is plenty of room up-stairs or down. We can have the eatables in the library and the fancy things up-stairs in the room over it. Nan, that's splendid. Let's go straight to tell Polly.
gpt
We have an idea,
human
I thought you must have something the way you came tearing, said Polly.
gpt
I'm glad it isn't anything breakable.
human
We're going to have the bazaar in the old wing of our house, she said.
gpt
It's empty and handy and----
human
Dirty,
gpt
It can be cleaned easily enough. Now, Cousin Polly, why will you laugh at it? Isn't it a fine idea?
human
It certainly is, Nan, returned her cousin.
gpt
I won't make fun, I really won't. What does Aunt Sarah say about it?
human
Oh, she won't care. We spoke of using our living-room first, you know, but she put her foot down, and when Aunt Sarah does put her foot down, she puts it down hard. You know there are four rooms in the wing beside the attic; we can use the two largest rooms for the tables and keep the supplies in the others.
gpt
We really could serve supper, or have a loan exhibit, she said reflectively,
human
Where can we get flowers at this time of year? asked Mary Lee.
gpt
We don't want to buy them, do we?
human
Oh, everybody has a few house plants, returned Polly,
gpt
What I want to know is exactly what we are going to do with the money, said Nan.
human
People ask me and I can't tell them.
gpt
Why, it's for Daniella,
human
Yes, I know; but she wouldn't take any when you offered it to her.
gpt
Then we'll spend it for her in whatever way seems best. Where are you off to now?
human
We must tell Aunt Sarah what we have decided to do, and we have lots to do to get ready in time. I think I'll begin to clean the rooms at once,
gpt
You'll do nothing of the kind, said Polly.
human
I'll come over to-morrow with old Achsah and get them in order. I'll have to see about tables. I suppose some long boards supported on boxes would do.
gpt
There's the joggle-board, said Nan,