THE PARTY 55 



chocolate, emerges from its cardboard box as one- 

 tall cake, whereas, when it started on its journey, 

 it was intended to be produced as three flat low 

 ones ; but this slight misfortune of the three 

 sticking together in transit only makes the taste 

 all the more generously creamy and chocolaty ! 

 Then, in the centre of the long, narrow table and 

 at intervals where cakes do not take up all the 

 room, are tall vases with red and white carnations, 

 and interspersed with them are red, white, and blue 

 ribbons. The table is laid for twenty-five, and 

 punctual to the minute, at half-past four, the 

 guests arrive. 



It is etiquette at such festivities for all to enter 

 together, and therefore any connected conversation 

 is interrupted for the first few minutes by con- 

 tinued handshakes. It is true we have all met 

 before to-day, but then my gardeners were only 

 in their workday clothes, and now I see before me 

 pretty, graceful figures in light dresses of many 

 colours. Several, through hard work and atten- 

 tion to their duties, have earned medals, and to- 

 night is an occasion for wearing them. They 

 consist of very delicately wrought enamel flowers, 

 the clever work of a woman artist, and are sus- 

 pended by a red ribbon to either one or two clasps, 

 according to the efficient services of the possessor. 

 It is, I feel sure, as proud a moment for me as it is 

 for them when these are worn, for it is proof that 

 past years devoted to work here have not proved 

 fruitless. Two of these head students now present 

 little posies of sweet-smelling flowers to their 

 Principal and to me. 



