Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the

Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

TWO LITTLE WOMEN ON A HOLIDAY

BY

CAROLYN WELLS

Author Of The Patty Books, The Marjorie Books, Two Little Women Series,
Etc.

FRONTISPIECE BY E. C. CASWELL

Made in the United States of America 1917

TO MY VERY DEAR CHILD FRIEND

FRANCES ALTHEA SPRAGUE

CHAPTER

I A WONDERFUL PLAN

II A FAVOURABLE DECISION

III THE ARRIVAL

IV A MERRY QUARTETTE

V GOING ABOUT

VI A MATINEE IDOL

VII GREAT PREPARATIONS

VIII THE CALLER

IX FINE FEATHERS

X A SKATING PARTY

XI THE COLLECTIONS

XII THE LOST JEWEL

XIII SUSPICIONS

XIV AT THE TEA ROOM

XV DOLLY'S RIDE

XVI WAS IT ALICIA?

XVII A CLEVER IDEA

XVIII FOUR CELEBRATIONS

XIX ALICIA'S SECRET

XX UNCLE JEFF'S FOUR FRIENDS

CHAPTER I

A WONDERFUL PLAN

"Hello, Dolly," said Dotty Rose, over the telephone.

"Hello, Dot," responded Dolly Fayre. "What you want?"

"Oh! I can't tell you this way. Come on over, just as quick as you can."

"But I haven't finished my Algebra, and it's nearly dinner time,anyway."

"No it isn't,—and no matter if it is. Come on, I tell you! You'd comefast enough if you knew what it's about!"

"Tell me, then."

"I say I can't,—over the telephone. Oh, Dolly, come on, and stopfussing!"

The telephone receiver at Dotty's end of the wire was hung up with aclick, and Dolly began to waggle her receiver hook in hope of gettingDotty back. But there was no response, so Dolly rose and went for hercoat. Flinging it round her, and not stopping to get a hat, she rannext door to Dotty Rose's house.

It was mid January, and the six o'clock darkness was lighted only bythe street lights. Flying across the two lawns that divided the houses,Dolly found Dotty awaiting her at the side door.

"Hurry up in, Doll," she cried, eagerly, "the greatest thing you everheard! Oh, the very greatest! If you only CAN! Oh, if you ONLY can!"

"Can what? Do tell me what you're talking about." Dolly tossed her coaton the hall rack, and followed Dotty into the Roses' living-room. Thereshe found Dotty's parents and also Bernice Forbes and her father. Whatcould such a gathering mean? Dolly began to think of school happenings;had she cut up any mischievous pranks or inadvertently done anythingwrong? What else could bring Mr. Forbes to the Roses' on what was veryevidently an important errand? For all present were eagerlyinterested,—that much was clear. Mr. and Mrs. Rose were smiling, yetshaking their heads in uncertainty; Bernice was flushed and excited;and Mr. Forbes himself was apparently trying to persuade them tosomething he was proposing.

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