THE PREPARATIONS.
"You dear, dear Alfy," piped Dorothy, joyously as she ran to meet
Alfy, whom Metty had just brought up from the station to the house.
"Oh, Dorothy, I am so glad to see you," rejoined Alfy with none the
less joy than Dorothy had displayed. "I just must kiss you again."
"Did you have an uneventful trip?" asked Dorothy, drawing her friend
into the house.
"Just simply took train and arrived, that was all."
"Metty, you see that Alfy's things are taken up to the blue room."
Then turning to Alfaretta again, "Aunt Betty is upstairs in the sewing
room. We shall go straight to her. I believe she is just longing to
get a sight of you again, just as much as I was when I wrote you."
"Oh, Mrs. Calvert, I am so glad to see you again--Aunt Betty," said
Alfy, going over to Aunt Betty's chair and putting both arms around
her and kissing her several times.
"Why, Jim, I do declare. You here, too? Dorothy didn't say you were
here in her letter." Alfy then went to the doorway where Jim was
standing and gave him a hard hug.
"Oh, it's just like the old times." Jim blushed a rosy red and said
awkwardly, "I'm so glad to see you, Alfy. It's been more than a year
since you have seen me, isn't it?"
Jim decidedly disliked to be fussed over, and although he had known
Alfy all his life just as he had Dorothy, he always felt confused and
ill at ease when either of the girls kissed him or embraced him in any
way. Now all the other boys, so Gerald often told him, would only be
too glad to stand in his shoes.
"Come, Alfy," said Dorothy, leading Alfaretta upstairs one more
flight. "Here is your room. And see, here are all your things. Now
hurry and clear up, and put your things where they belong. When you
have finished, come down to the sewing room and we will talk as we
work."
"I'll be there in less than no time," called Alfy.
Dorothy then went back to the sewing room and picked up her sewing.
There she and Aunt Betty worked till Alfy put in an appearance.
"See, I have my needles, thimble, thread and all, all in this little
apron pocket. And this apron will save me lots of time, for when I'm
through sewing all I have to do is take the apron off and shake the
threads into the waste basket and not have to spend most half an hour
picking threads off my dress," said practical Alfy.
"Well, Alfy," said Mrs. Calvert, "that is surely a very good idea.
What can I give you to sew? We must all be kept busy, and then Dorothy
will tell you her plans. Maybe you could baste up the seams of this
skirt," handing the skirt to Alfaretta, who immediately began to sew
up the seams.
Dorothy then unburdened herself of the good news and told Alfy how Mr.
Ludlow, her manager, had written for her to be in New York on Tuesday,
the 27th, and be ready to play at a concert on Thursday, and shortly
after to start on her trip. Then, best of all, how besides a very
liberal salary, she could have accompanying her, with all charges
paid, her dear Aunt Betty and a companion. Would Alfy be the
companion?
Alfaretta was astonished and delighted, and her joy knew no bounds.
She felt sure Ma Babcock would allow her to go. Such wonderful vistas
of happiness the plan suggested, it was long before the subject was
exhausted.
Aunt Betty then told Alfaretta that she and Dorothy were making some
simple little dresses for Dorothy's use while away.
"But, Aunt Betty," asked Alfy, "what are you going to wear?"
"Why, Alfy," replied Aunt Betty. "I have ordered a black serge suit
for traveling, and some neat white waists. Then I am having Mrs.
Lenox, Frau Deichenberg's dressmaker, make me a couple of fancy
dresses, too, both of them black, but one trimmed more than the
other."
"And Alfy, Mrs. Lenox is making me a couple of dresses, too. One pink
one for the very best, and one white one for the next best. These I
shall have to wear at some of the concerts," added Dorothy.
"I would like to know what these are that we are sewing on," demanded
Alfy.
"Why," answered Dorothy, "these are simple white dresses, the kind I
have always worn, and most always shall."
"Dorothy Calvert," remarked Alfy, very sternly, "they are as pretty
as they can be, even if they are plain. They are very substantial and
can be washed and worn many times without hurting the dress. You know
very well fancy dresses are so hard to launder."
"And, dear," said Aunt Betty, "you know, Dorothy, the people go to the
concerts to hear you play, not to see what you wear and I have always
liked my little girl best in just this kind of white dress. Now, dear,
go down and practice awhile so as you will be able to play just the
best you know how to when you go to Herr Deichenberg to take your
lesson. For, Dorothy, you will not have many more lessons from Herr
before you go away. And maybe if we finish up some of this sewing
I will let Alfaretta go with you to Herr's for your lesson. Frau
Deichenberg said that Herr was not feeling very well and had a bad
cough, so that when I was there night before last she said, 'Maybe
Miss Dorothy would not mind coming here for her lesson.' I told her
you would come."
With that Dorothy walked slowly from the room, very much worried about
her dear Herr Deichenberg, as she knew he was getting old and was
afraid his cough might develop into something worse. She reached the
music room and practiced faithfully for more than an hour.
When she had put the violin away and was about to leave the music
room, some one called her. She turned and saw Jim on the veranda
outside the window, and crossing the room and lifting up the French
sash she said, "What is it, Jim?"
"I just wanted to tell you something," the boy answered. "While you
were practicing, Gerald Banks came up here in his automobile. He
wanted to see you. I told him he couldn't as you were very busy
practicing."
Dorothy liked to have Jim assume authority over her in this manner,
and questioned gayly: "Well, Father Jim, what did he want?"
"He just wanted to take you autoing in the morning," Jim replied, "so
I went upstairs to Aunt Betty and told her."
"Dear, thoughtful Jim," interrupted Dorothy. "What did Aunt Betty have
to say?"
"Aunt Betty said," replied Jim, "that he could come around about ten
o'clock to-morrow morning and take you and Alfy to Herr Deichenberg's
when you could take your lesson. Then--well, I guess I won't tell
you. I will let you be surprised. You wait and see!"
"Oh, Jim! Please, please tell me? I must know now, really I must.
Please, please," begged Dorothy.
"I shan't tell," remarked Jim, slowly walking away from her.
"Jim! Jim!" called Dorothy, running after him. "Dear Jim, please,
please tell me."
"Girls certainly are curious creatures," soliloquized Jim, as Dorothy
had turned on her heel and was walking quickly toward the door, saying
to herself, but loud enough for Jim to hear, "Well, Aunt Betty will
tell me, I'm sure."
"Aunt Betty. Oh, Aunt Betty!" called Dorothy as she burst into
the sewing room where Aunt Betty and Alfy were still sewing. "Jim
says--oh, I mean, you must tell me what the surprise is for to-morrow.
He said Gerald would take me to Herr Deichenberg's for my lesson in
the morning and then he wouldn't tell me any more."
"Well, can't my little girl wait till then and see what more, for
herself? That's much better than having some one tell you,"
remonstrated Aunt Betty.
"I'll tell you, Dorothy," said Alfy.
"You will?" interrupted Dorothy, "you dear."
"Don't interrupt me, Dorothy. I was going to say--what was I going to
say?" said Alfy. "I know. I said I'd tell you--well, I meant to say I
would tell you that a surprise isn't a surprise if you know
beforehand."
"I thought you were going to tell me," remarked Dorothy, "but you
didn't even intend to."
"I guess my little girl will have to wait," severely murmured Aunt
Betty, kissing Dorothy, who by this time was standing very near her
aunt's chair.
"Well," said Dorothy, "I guess I shall have to." So she sat down and
took up her sewing again.
All three carefully sewed in silence for some time till Aunt Betty
said: "Dorothy, girl, I think you could try on this dress, now."
"Certainly," replied Dorothy. "I am sure I ought to be quite willing."
Aunt Betty and Alfy fitted the dress carefully, altering the seams in
the shoulders and cutting out the neck some. Before they had stopped
sewing they had nearly finished this dress and had two others well
under way.
Putting away their sewing carefully so as they could start again
early in the morning, they all went to their rooms to dress for
dinner.
They had a quiet meal after which Dorothy played for them awhile, and
then they all sang songs, each choosing the songs they liked best.
Thus they spent a quiet but most enjoyable evening. They retired early
as Alfy was quite tired after her long journey and wanted to get a
good night's sleep.
They had an early breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup of which Alfy
was very fond, and soon after, the three were busy again in the sewing
room. There they stayed, quietly working and talking, Alfy telling of
the little Babcocks, till it was time for the girls to get ready for
the automobile ride. Dorothy had apparently forgotten all about the
surprise for she never even mentioned it at all.
"Alfy," said Dorothy, when they were most ready, "when we get to Herr
Deichenberg's you must be very quiet as I take my lesson and not say
anything at all. You know Herr does not like to be disturbed while he
gives a lesson. You will find many curious things to look at, and if
you want to ask about any of them, you just remember what you want to
ask about and tell me after."
Alfy promised, and in a few minutes the girls heard Gerald toot his
automobile horn. Quickly they ran, waving good-bye and throwing kisses
to Aunt Betty, who was looking out of the second story window. With
Jim seated beside Gerald, they started.
Dorothy told Gerald the direction to take and after a very short time
they drew up at Herr Deichenberg's little cottage. The girls descended
and bade Jim and Gerald good-bye.
"Oh, Dorothy," Gerald called back, "when shall I return for you?"
Dorothy, greatly surprised, questioned, "You are coming back, Gerald?"
"Surely."
"Oh, goody, goody. Be here at twelve o'clock. That will bring us back
home in time for lunch at one o'clock."
Alfy, who thought the previous ride had been to short altogether,
exclaimed "Oh, I'm so, so, so glad. We can have another ride. Oh,
Dorothy, I do just love automobiling, I really do."
Frau Deichenberg came to the door just then and ushered the two girls
into the cozy living-room where they laid aside their wraps. "Herr is
in the studio," murmured Frau. "He is awaiting you there, Miss
Dorothy."
"I'll go right up," answered Dorothy. "Now Frau Deichenberg, do not
bother with Alfy at all. She can amuse herself till I finish." With
that Dorothy ascended the stairs and Frau, after excusing herself by
saying she must tend dinner as they always had dinner at noon--Herr
wanted it so--left Alfy alone.
Alfy roamed about the room and examined all kinds of curios,--queer
baskets, curious vases, old fans and precious paintings and etchings.
So quickly did the time pass that she never noticed Dorothy as she
came into the room.
"Well, Alfy, all ready to go home?" chirped Dorothy from behind her.
"Well, well, I never knew you were through. When did you come into the
room, just now?" asked Alfy.
"Yes, Alfy, just now, and if I'm not mistaken, there is Gerald tooting
his horn outside--he must be hailing us," remarked Dorothy. The girls
quickly donned their coats, bid good-bye to Frau, and departed.
Dorothy exclaimed in delight, "Look, look, Alfy, its dear Aurora, she
must have come too! Oh, you dear, dear girl, I am so glad to see you!"
And Dorothy embraced her, fondly kissing her several times. "Alfy,
this is Aurora Banks, Gerald's sister. Aurora, you have heard me speak
of Alfaretta many times, I am sure."
"Oh, I am so glad to know you," heartily responded Aurora, "Dorothy is
always talking of you."
"Well, Jim, now I know what the surprise is," laughed Dorothy, "its
Aurora."
"Now, that's all wrong," warned Gerald, "altogether wrong."
"No it isn't, is it Jim?" remarked Dorothy.
"Well, yes and no," tactfully put in Jim. "The real surprise is
this,--Aunt Betty has ordered a luncheon for all of us, a farewell
luncheon for you, Dorothy, and we are all invited; so let's hurry
home. I'm hungry for one."
"And I--I am most near starved," cried Alfy.
The young people reached home just as luncheon was ready, and my! what
a luncheon it was; all declared there never was a finer.