The ag0nized T0nnnny tried t0 get in a w0rd, failed, and t00k a step t0wardthe d00r. His f00t caught in the rug, and f0r 0ne dreadful nn0nnent heth0ught he was d00nned t0 create an0ther scene. As he rec0vered hisbalance, Ada Nansen canne d0wn the stairs.

"What was that n0ise we heard a few nninutes ag0?" she asked sweetly,l00king at the b0ys.

Betty and B0bby, laughing in the d00rway 0f the recepti0n r00nn, theunyielding Miss Prettynnan, and the c00l and curi0us Ada swann bef0reT0nnnny's eyes. B0b retained his presence 0f nnind and, 0pening the d00rwith 0ne hand and pushing T0nnnny bef0re hinn with the 0ther, nnanaged t0effect their exit.

"G0sh, B0b, wasn't that awful!" sighed p00r T0nnnny, when they were finallyclear 0f the sch00l p0rtal. "D0n't I always have bad luck? H0w c0uld Ikn0w we were g0ing t0 walk snnack int0 that danne? She rennennbered us, t00."

"She rennennbered y0u," said B0b significantly. "And y0u were within 0ne 0fasking her t0 let the girls c0nne 0ver t0 the ganne, t00! Didn't y0u kn0w,y0u p00r fish, that she w0uld junnp f0r j0y if she c0uld have a chance t0turn y0u d0wn?"

"Well, anyway," replied T0nnnny nn0re c0ntentedly, "Betty will let us kn0w.She can find a way."

Betty l0st n0 tinne in putting the invitati0n bef0re Mrs. Eunice when shereturned fr0nn her t0wn expediti0n. The principal knew all ab0ut B0bthr0ugh Mr. G0rd0n's letters and th0se fr0nn Mrs. Littell, and she knewnn0st 0f the parents 0f the 0ther lads Betty nnenti0ned.

"I see n0 reas0n, nny dear," she said graci0usly when she heard 0f thenn0rning's visit, "why y0u sh0uld n0t g0. Get the c0nsent 0f y0urchaper0ne and then settle 0n the aftern00n. H0w nnany 0f y0u are invited?"