Ida went into a confectionery store and invested in what Josie Pye was wont to call `` ready-to-wear eatables '' -- fancy cakes , fruit , and candies . When she reached her room she found it full of expectant girls , with Miss Monroe enthroned in the midst of them -- Miss Monroe in a wonderful evening dress of black lace and yellow silk , with roses in her hair and pearls on her neck -- all donned in honour of Ida 's little celebration . I wo n't say that , just for a moment , Ida did n't regret that she had given up her cake . `` Good evening , Miss Mitchell , '' cried Mary Craig gaily . `` Walk right in and make yourself at home in your own room , do ! We all met in the hall , and knocked and knocked . Finally Miss Monroe came , so we made bold to walk right in . Where is the only and original fruit cake , Ida ? My mouth has been watering all day . '' `` The other Ida Mitchell is probably entertaining her friends at this moment with my fruit cake , '' said Ida , with a little laugh . Then she told the whole story . `` I 'm so sorry to disappoint you , '' she concluded , `` but I simply could n't tell that poor , lonely child that the cake was n't intended for her . I 've brought all the goodies home with me that I could buy , and we 'll have to do the best we can without the fruit cake . '' Their `` best '' proved to be a very good thing . They had a jolly New Year 's Eve , and Miss Monroe sparkled and entertained most brilliantly . They kept their celebration up until twelve to welcome the new year in , and then they bade Ida good night . But Miss Monroe lingered for a moment behind the others to say softly : `` I want to tell you how good and sweet I think it was of you to give up your cake to the other Ida . That little bit of unselfishness was a good guerdon for your new year . '' And Ida , radiant-faced at this praise from her idol , answered heartily : `` I 'm afraid I 'm anything but unselfish , Miss Monroe . But I mean to try to be more this coming year and think a little about the girls outside of my own little set who may be lonely or discouraged .
The other Ida Mitchell is n't going XXXXX have to depend on that fruit cake alone for comfort and encouragement for the next twelve months . ''
at behind for from in of that to with without