Six Girls and the Tea Room

by Marion Ames Taggart

  "THERE WERE EXCITING DAYS, TIRESOME TOO"]

  (Sequel to "Six Girls and Bob")

  SIX GIRLS AND THE TEA ROOM

  A Story

  by

  MARION AMES TAGGART

  Author of "Six Girls and Bob," "The LittleGrey House," "The Wyndham Girls," etc.

  Illustrated by William F. Stecher

  W. A. Wilde CompanyBoston Chicago

  Copyrighted, 1907By W. A. Wilde CompanyAll rights reserved

  SIX GIRLS AND THE TEA ROOM

  _To Gertrude,_ _amid the mountains:_

  Again a story of the Six Girls of whom we are fond, is dedicated toyou. It will tell you what delightful things grew out of their TeaRoom, and how the "Patty-Pans flat" was filled with happiness till itoverflowed into a larger home.

  It proves--what you know--that the best times are not always greattimes. Our Six Girls--and the boys--are busy young folk, and the goodthings that have come to them they won by courage, perseverance and themerry hearts that are part of innocence and sweetness.

  More than all, our Six Girls--and one boy--love one another so dearlythat they cannot help being successful and happy. We believe--do wenot?--that a loving home alone is a real home.

  Margery, Happie, Gretta and Bob know well that "'tis love that makesthe world go 'round." They ask love of those who read the story oftheir Tea Room which brought happiness to so many, in such unforeseenways. It is the story of a winter, but a winter all sunshine.

  Remembering how it was written is it fittingly dedicated to you, dearGertrude.

  CONTENTS

  I. THE PATTY-PANS AGAIN 11

  II. "PLEASED TO MEET YOU" 26

  III. THE CUP THAT CHEERS 41

  IV. CHRISTMAS, AND AN INVITATION 54

  V. "THE HANDSOME MISS ANGELA KEY-STONE" 69

  VI. UP-STAIRS AND DOWN-STAIRS 85

  VII. AN OPEN DOOR 99

  VIII. HARD TRAVELING 115

  IX. AN UNPREJUDICED VIEW 130

  X. "SEEING IS BELIEVING" 145

  XI. THE ELASTIC PATTY-PANS 161

  XII. THE TWO KEREN-HAPPUCHS 176

  XIII. A HINT OF SPRING 193

  XIV. LITTLE SERENA 207

  XV. "'MONGST THE HILLS OF SOMERSET, WISHT I WAS A-ROAMIN' YET!" 224

  XVI. HAPPIE GRANTS AMNESTY 240

  XVII. JONES-DEXTER PRIDE 256

  XVIII. A SIEGESLIED 272

  XIX. PATTY-PANS NO MORE 288

  XX. EAST AND WEST 304