CHAPTER XVII.
POLLY LAUNCHES HER SHIPS.
There were great doings in the Birds Nest.
A hundred dainty circulars, printed in black and scarlet on Irish linen paper, had been sent to those ladies on Mrs.Bird's calling-list who had children between the ages of five and twelve, that being Polly's chosen limit of age.
These notes of invitation read as follows:-- "Come, tell us a story!" THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
Mrs.Donald Bird requests the pleasure of your company from 4.30 to 5.30 o'clock on Mondays or Thursdays from November to March inclusive.
FIRST GROUP: Mondays.

Children from 5 to 8 years.
SECOND GROUP: Thursdays.

" " 8 " 12 years.
Each group limited in number to twenty-four.
Miss Pauline Oliver will tell stories suitable to the ages of the children, adapted to their prevailing interests, and appropriate to the special months of the year.
These stories will be chosen with the greatest care, and will embrace representative tales of all classes,--narrative, realistic, scientific, imaginative, and historical.

They will be illustrated by songs and black-board sketches.

Terms for the Series (Twenty Hours), Five Dollars.
R.S.V.P.
Polly felt an absolute sense of suffocation as she saw Mrs.Bird seal and address the last square envelope.
"If anybody does come," she said, somewhat sadly, "I am afraid it will be only that the story hour is at your lovely house." "Don't be so foolishly independent, my child.