PLANNING THE CHRISTMAS DINNER The ensuing days before Christmas were filled to the brim with business for Grace and Arline, who had been making secret tours of investigation about Overton with regard to the girls who were not going to their homes or to friends for the vacation.

The managers at Martell's and Vinton's had been interviewed, and both proprietors had agreed to furnish practically the same dinner at the same price, which was considerably more than fifty cents, and was to be paid privately from Arline's own pocket money.
"I feel like a conspirator," confided Arline to Grace as the two girls sat at the library table in the living room at Wayne Hall late one afternoon going over a long list of names and addresses which they had obtained by dint of much walking and inquiring.
"But it is such a delightful conspiracy," reminded Grace.

"One doesn't often conspire to make other people happy.

I hope the girls will fall in readily with your plan." "I shall have to be as wise as a serpent," smiled Arline, "and as diplomatic as--as--Miriam Nesbit.

She is the most diplomatic person I ever knew." "Isn't she, though ?" agreed Grace smilingly.