It's the most beautiful surprise for Lloyd's birthday that ever was.

She's not to know till to-morrow.
It's too good a secret to keep to myself, so I'll share it with you in a minute if you'll swear not to tell till to-morrow." Scarcely believing that she heard aright, Dora dropped down on the grass, regardless of the fact that her roommate and two other girls were waiting on the upper terrace for her to join them.

They were going to Mammy Easter's cabin to have their fortunes told.

Feeling that this was the best fortune that had befallen her since her arrival at Warwick Hall, and sure that Mammy Easter could foretell no greater honor than she was already enjoying, she signalled wildly for them to go on without her.
At first they did not understand her frantic gestures for them to go on, and stood beckoning, till she turned her back on them.

Then they moved away reluctantly and in great disgust at her abandoning them.