for you!" Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks glowed; she seemed
electrified with some piece of news.

"That's what you said when you first came," spoke Mollie, "but we
seemed to get off the track. Start over, Betty, that's a dear, and
tell us all about it. Take that willow chair," and Billy pointed to an
artistic green one that harmonized delightfully with the grass, and
the gray bark of an apple tree against which it was drawn.

"No, I'm going to stand up," went on Betty. "Anyhow, I don't want to
start until Grace comes back. I detest telling a thing over twice."

"If Grace can't find that box of chocolates she'll most likely run
down to the store for another," said Amy.

"And that means we won't hear the surprise for ever so long," said
Mollie. "Go on, Bet, tell us, and we'll retell it to Grace when she
comes. That will get rid of your objection," and Mollie tucked back
several locks of her pretty hair that had strayed loose when the
vigorous hammock-action took place.

"No, I'd rather tell it to you all together," insisted Betty, with a
shake of her head. "It wouldn't be fair to Grace to tell it to you two
first. We'll wait."

"I'll go in and ask her to hurry," ventured Amy. She was always
willing to do what she could to promote peace, harmony, and general
good feeling. If ever anyone wanted anything done, Amy was generally
the first to volunteer.