CHAPTER XXXIII 
CHRISTMAS EVE 
THE next day was a busy one for all of us. 
Polly and Jane drove to the Gordons and secured 
Miss Jessie, and then Jane went to town to fetch 
her other friends. Jack went with her, after 
having telegraphed to Jim Jarvis. They all 
came home by mid-afternoon, just as a message 
came from Jarvis: “ Will be on deck at six.” 
Florence Marcy and Minnie Henderson were 
former neighbors and schoolmates of Jane’s. 
They were fine girls to look at and bright girls 
to talk with; blondes, eighteen, high-headed, full 
of life, and great girls for a house party. Phil 
and Frank were good specimens of their kinds. 
Frank was a little below medium height, slight, 
blond, vivacious to a degree, full of fun, and 
the most industrious talker within miles; he 
would “stir things up” at a funeral. Phil 
Stone was tall, slender, dark, quiet, well-dressed, 
a good dancer, and a very agreeable fellow in 
the corner of the room, where his low musical 
voice was most effective. 
Jessie Gordon came at five o’clock. We were all 
very fond of Jessie, and who could help it? She 
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