A SKATING PARTY
That evening, in the drawing-room, Mr. Forbes questioned the girls
rather closely as to their enjoyment of the party at the Browns'.
"I liked it," said Dolly, "but it was queer,--that's what it
was,--queer. The idea of just seeing a performance on the stage, and
then rushing through a very fancy supper, and then scooting for home as
if the house was on fire!--that's not my idea of a party!"
Uncle Jeff laughed. "And you, Dotty," he said, "how did it strike you?"
"I adored it! Everybody was so gay and smartly dressed and
quick-spoken,--I do like to hear people say things fast."
"How queer you are!" exclaimed Bernice; "why do you like to hear people
talk fast?"
"Not talk fast exactly, but say things suddenly, funny things, I mean."
"I understand," said Mr. Forbes; "you mean bright at repartee and
quick-witted."
"Yes, sir, that's just what I do mean. And everything was so well
planned and well arranged,--oh, I enjoyed every minute of it."
"Well, I didn't," said Bernice. "I'd rather go to a regular party,
where they play games and dance and act sociable."
"Why, the people were sociable enough," put in Alicia. "I'm like Dot, I
thought it was lovely! Muriel is as pretty as a picture--"
"She scarcely said three words to us!" complained Bernice.
"She couldn't help that. There were so many guests, that she hadn't
time to more than speak a minute or two with each one of them."
"I like Berwick parties better," persisted Bernice. "There we all know
each other--"
"But, Bernie," said Dolly, laughing, "all the people at this party knew
each other,--nearly. We were strangers, of course, but the rest seemed
to be well acquainted with Muriel."
"And I thought the party was to be for us," went on Bernice, "and I
thought we'd be introduced to everybody, and be--well, be SOMEBODY, you
know."
"Oho! you wanted to be honoured and lionised!" and Uncle Jeff's eyes
twinkled.
"Not exactly. But I understood from Mr. Brown that the whole affair was
gotten up for us, and so I think we ought to have been noticed more.
Why, the boys just scraped acquaintance with us, and even had to ask
our names!"
"That's the way they do at large parties, Bernie," said her uncle. "You
are supposed to talk to any of the other guests without introduction."
"Well, it's no sort of a way! They were awfully nice boys, but I don't
suppose we'll ever see them again."
"Oh, yes, we will," said Dolly. "They asked to call on us, and I said
I'd ask you, Uncle Forbes. Would it be all right?"
"Bless my soul, Dolly! I don't know. I've so little knowledge of
etiquette for young people. Ask Mrs. Berry, whatever she says, you may
do. Who are the boys? Hosmer? Knapp? Oh, they're all right. I know the
families. But as to their calling, put it up to Mrs. Berry. And, by the
way, how'd you girls like to have a party, a real one?"
"Like the one we went to to-day?" asked Bernice, doubtfully. "I don't
care much about it."
"Well, have some other kind. There must be other ways of entertaining.
What would you like, Bernice?"
"I'd like a little party,--but I suppose that would have to be formal,
too."
"Oh, gracious, you old hayseed!" exclaimed Alicia. "You go back to the
country! I'd love to have a party, Uncle, the biggest and grandest
there is! Muriel Brown would invite the people for us, I'm sure. Oh, it
would be just heavenly! We'd have an orchestra, and a midnight supper,
and--oh, and everything!"
"Hold on, my child, don't go too fast! We'll only have what you all
agree on. Come, two D's, what do you say?"
"We oughtn't to say," laughed Dolly. "It's for your nieces to choose.
And anyway, Dot and I like everything, and we'd enjoy any kind of a
party--or no party at all."
"You've a nice disposition," said Mr. Forbes, looking at her. "Don't
you ever lose your temper?"
"She hasn't any to lose!" Dotty answered for her. "In fact, she's too
awfully good-natured for any use! But she has other faults. She's as
stubborn as a perfectly good mule! Aren't you, Dollums?"
"I s'pect I am," and the golden head nodded. "But only when I care
enough to be stubborn. As to this party, I don't care what sort it is,
'cause I know it will be lovely, anyway. That is, if we have it. But
seems to me invitations for a big affair ought to be sent out several
days in advance, and we'll be going home the middle of next week."
"Why, you've only just got here!" said Mr. Forbes.
"Well, it's Friday night now, and we came last Wednesday for a week.
So, if we go home next Wednesday, that party would have to be in three
or four days, and that's a short time."
"Of course," agreed Alicia. "We couldn't give a big party on such short
notice."
"That's easily arranged," and Mr. Forbes laughed; "stay another week."
"Oh, I couldn't," cried Dolly. "My mother wouldn't hear of such a
thing. The other girls can, though."
"I wouldn't if Doll didn't," declared Dotty. "But Bernie and Alicia
could stay."
"So we could," said Bernice. "My father will let me stay as long as
Uncle Jeff wants me."
"I can stay, too," said Alicia, "But it's lots more fun to have you
other girls with us."
"We'll see about all that," and Mr. Forbes dismissed the subject.
A footman came in to say that Miss Fayre was wanted on the telephone.
"Oh!" cried Dolly, her face turning white, "do you suppose any thing's
wrong at home? Mother had a cold; maybe it's developed into pneumonia!"
"Nonsense, child; don't borrow trouble. Probably it's nothing of the
sort."
"Isn't that Dolly all over?" said Alicia, after Dolly had left the
room. "She always thinks the worst there is to think!"
"Maybe she's right," said Dotty. "Mrs. Fayre does have awful
colds,--hark, I hear Dolly laughing! It's all right!"
They all listened, and they heard Dolly say, "Oh, perfectly splendid!
I'd just love it!--Thank you!--Yes, indeed!--I'm 'most sure--oh,
delightful!--Well, I'll ask her--Fine!--Yes, yes,--just wait a
minute,--I'll ask her now--hold the wire."
Followed a whispered conversation, and the girls caught the sound of
Mrs. Berry's voice.
Unable to restrain their curiosity longer, the three rushed out to the
hall and saw Dolly, her hand over the transmitter, talking to Mrs.
Berry.
"What is it? Tell us all!" cried Bernice, and Alicia crowded close to
listen.
"Oh, girls," and Dolly beamed at them, "it's the loveliest invitation!
Marly Turner wants us to go, to a skating party to-morrow afternoon at
St. Valentine's rink! And Mrs. Berry says it will be all right for us
to go. Yes," she continued, speaking into the telephone. "Yes, we can
go. And we're all most happy to accept. What time?"
"Four o'clock," came the answer. "Meet our crowd at the rink. So glad
you can come."
"So are we," returned Dolly, "and thank you, ever so much. Good-bye."
"Good-bye," said Turner, and Dolly hung up the receiver.
"Tell us more," cried Alicia. "What did you hang up so soon for? Why
didn't you let US talk to him? What an old selfish you are!"
"I couldn't, Alicia," and Dolly looked hurt. "I knew from his manner
and speech that he only; wanted a reply to his invitation, and I wasn't
expected to say more."
"But why did he ask for you?" grumbled Alicia; "why not for me?"
"I don't know, I'm sure," and Dolly laughed; "he did, that's all. Let's
go and tell Uncle Forbes about it."
"All right, girls; all right. Glad you're going. Have a good time.
Marly Turner? Yes, yes, son of the Bayard Turners. Nice boy. His crowd
will be all right. Can you all skate? Did you bring your skates? If
not, get some. Get whatever you want. Look as good as the rest.
Good-night now. Good-night, all."
Abruptly, as usual, Mr. Forbes left the room, and as the girls were
getting accustomed to his eccentricities they nodded their good-nights,
and then began to plan for the skating party.
Mrs. Berry appeared and helped them decide on certain details of
costume and accessories.
The two D's had brought the pretty skating costumes they had worn at
the Berwick carnival, but as Bernice had been the queen that night, her
white velvet gown was out of the question. Alicia, too, had no
appropriate garb, so these two bought new dresses.
The final result was four very becomingly attired girls who started
merrily off on Saturday afternoon for the party at the rink.
Four bunches of violets, with Marly Turner's card, had come to the
house, and each fair damsel wore one at her corsage.
Dolly's suit was of light blue cloth trimmed with silver fox, and
Dotty's was red cloth with dark fur.
Bernice looked very handsome in white cloth, and Alicia had chosen
emerald green.
They were met at the rink by Marly and his chums, and at once
introduced to the chaperon of the affair, who was Marly's married
sister. She didn't look much older than the boy himself, but she
greeted the girls with a charming hospitality and declared herself
delighted to take them in charge.
The other boys whom they had met at Muriel's party were there, and
Muriel was, too. She welcomed the four warmly, but as she was
constantly in demand by other gay young friends, they had no chance for
connected conversation with her.
Indeed, connected conversation was not thought of, unless with one's
skating partner.
"You're all right on runners," commented Geordie Knapp, as he skated
with Dotty. "You must be fond of it."
"Oh, I am. I skate a lot at home; that is, when there's ice. We're
dependent on that, you see, as we haven't an ice rink in Berwick."
"Berwick? Small town?"
"Yes. 'Bout as big as a minute," and Dotty laughed good-naturedly.
"That's why you're so up to the minute, then," Geordie laughed back.
"Want to sit down and rest a bit?"
"All right. Let's," and they sat down for a few moments.
"There goes your chum,--with Ted Hosmer. She is your chum, isn't she?
The Fair Dolly?"
"Dolly Fayre? Yes, indeed; we're super-inseparable."
"That's the way with Ted and me. We're always together. Funny, isn't
it, how you like one person better'n anybody else?"
"Yes; I couldn't keep house without Dolly. And we do keep house!" and
Dotty told her companion all about Treasure House and its delights.
"Wow! That's some stunt! A house like that I I'd like to see it."
"Do. Some day next summer come out to Berwick and I'll show it to you.
We've great little old brothers, too. One apiece."
"Have you? I s'pose you can cut up larks in the country that you
couldn't here?"
"It's awfully different." Dotty sighed. "I like the city better in lots
of ways, but, altogether, I guess I'd rather live in Berwick."
"What are you two confabbing about?" sang out a voice, and Dolly, with
Ted Hosmer, came gliding up and stopped in front of Dot and young Knapp.
"Settling the affairs of the nation," said Geordie; "also, it's a case
of 'change partners.'" He jumped up, took Dolly's hands in his, and
they swayed off across the ice, leaving Dotty and Ted together.
"Don't mind him; he's crazy," said Ted, as he dropped onto the seat
beside Dotty. "And anyway, we're such chums we share our best friends
with each other!"
"Glad you do! I like to talk to different people--"
"I'm a different people; oh, I assure you I am. Please like to talk to
me!"
"I do. Or, at least, I'm sure I shall. What shall we talk about?"
"Sports in general. What do you like best, next to skating?"
"Tennis, don't you?"
"Sure, if you do. But that's mostly for summer. Come on, let's skate
round a couple of times, and then go for the tea place."
It was good fun skating with Ted, and, as Dolly told him, he reminded
her a little of her friend, Tad Brown.
"Any kin of Muriel's?"
"No, a boy in Berwick. He has a twin brother, Tod."
"Great names! Tadpole and Toddlekins, in full, I suppose."
"They are called those sometimes. Oh, Mrs. Graham is beckoning to us.
We must go."
They joined Mrs. Graham, who was their chaperon, and she marshalled her
crowd of young people to the tea room.
At last Muriel Brown found a chance to talk to our girls.
"We seem like old friends," she said, gaily. "Isn't the ice fine
to-day? Are you going to the dance to-night? What? Not invited? That
can easily be remedied. I say, Sam, don't you want these four angel
children at your party?"
"'Deed I do!" and Sam Graves beamed broadly, "I didn't dare ask them
myself,--meant to get you to do it. Coax 'em, Muriel. Make 'em say yes."
Alicia took it upon herself to accept this invitation, though Dolly
insisted it would depend on Mrs. Berry's sanction.
"Who's Mrs. Berry?" asked Muriel. "Is she a dragon?"
"No, indeed," smiled Dotty; "she's the dearest old yes-sayer in the
world!"
"Oh, she'll let you come then. Tell the girls all about it, Sam," and
Muriel moved away.
"She went off and left her ice cream untouched!" exclaimed Dotty.
"She's always on the hop,--Muriel is," said Sam. "Now you girls come
to-night, won't you? It's a small and early at my house. Mr. Forbes
knows me, and I know your Mrs. Berry, too. Just tell her it's little
Sammy's party, and she'll send you flying over."
"Tell us something about it," said Dolly. "Is it to be very grand?
We're hazy on the subject of New York dances."
"Can you dance?"
"Yes, though maybe not the very latest steps."
"That's all right, then. Put on a clean sash and come along. You won't
be wall flowers!"
"What time shall we come?" asked Bernice. "Tell me about the details;
I'm Mr. Forbe's niece."
Bernice was always a little jealous if the D's seemed to be consulted
rather than herself or Alicia.
"Oh, no details specially. All informal, you know. Come when you
like,--nine, maybe, or half past. If you're feeling conventional about
it, my mother will call on you--by telephone--and ask you proper."
"Oh, no, she needn't do that," and Bernice laughed at the idea. "We're
only little girls. If Mrs. Berry says we can go, your invitation is
enough."
"Good work! Be sure to come. Crazy to have you. 'Scuse me a
minute,--there's a girl I want to speak to."
Sam darted off, and another boy dropped into his vacated seat. It was
this touch and go effect that Dotty liked, but to Dolly it seemed a
whirling maze.
And, indeed, almost before they knew it they were all whirled off home.