CHAPTER VII
GREAT PREPARATIONS
Demurely Dolly went back to her room. The other girls were breathlesslyawaiting her return, and pounced on her for the news.
"At least you got back alive!" cried Dotty as she grabbed Dolly by thearms and danced her up and down the room.
"But what did she say?" demanded Alicia, in fiery impatience.
"Don't you wish you knew!" and Dolly fell into a teasing mood, and whenDolly Fayre felt like teasing, she was adept at it!
"Tell us! Tell us!" cried Bernice. "Oh, Dolly, tell us!"
"Tell you what?" asked Dolly, with an innocent stare.
"Tell us what Mrs. Berry said."
"Oh, she asked me how I liked her room, and she showed me the parrotnext door. It's a beautiful bird--"
"Never mind a bird! What did she say about Mr. Coriell?"
"Why, we talked about the parrot first. You see, his cage hangs in awindow right across from hers, not ten feet away--"
"Nonsense!" cried Alicia, "who cares about the parrot! Tell us about myhero!"
"She says he has a dreadful voice, and squawks like fury--"
"Oh, he HASN'T! He's a wonderful singer!"
"I mean the parrot," said Dolly, mischievously enjoying Alicia'sdisgusted look. "And she says we can ask him to tea."
"Who? the parrot?" This from Dotty.
"No, you silly! Mr. Coriell. But, of course, if you'd rather have theparrot--"
"Oh, Dolly, do be sensible!" and Bernice looked exasperated; "are yougoing to tell us all about it or not?"
"Not if you're so rude to me! Certainly not! You are dismissed, youtwo. Dot and I are going to bed."
"Not much you're not!" declared Alicia. "Not till you tell us what Mrs.Berry said."
"Then you must ask me with due politeness and proper courtesy. I can'treport to a lot of cackling geese! You're worse than parrots!"
"Please, dear, sweet Dollyrinda, what DID the lady say?" begged Dotty,in wheedling tones.
"Ah, yes, tell us," and Alicia took the cue. "Angel child! Beautifulblonde Towhead! what,--oh, vouchsafe to deign to tell us, WHAT did shesay?"
"Whoop it up, Dollums," said Bernice, laughing, "out with it, youlittle rascal. Did she hold up her hands in horror?"
"She did NOT," said Dolly, with dignity. "She said, that if Aliciachose, she might invite the gentleman to tea on Friday, and that shewould see to it that there was a nice tea-party prepared for hisbenefit. There, WHO'S a good ambassador?"
"You are! you blessed angel!" cried Alicia, warmly; "you're a wonder! amarvel! a peach! a pippin! Oh, you're just all there is of it! Did sheREALLY say that?"
"Oh, you want to know what she REALLY said," and Dolly's head went onone side, as she began to tease again.
"Of course, that's what she really said," interposed Dotty, who didn'twant any more high words. "'Licia, be satisfied with that, and scoot tobed."
"Nothing of the sort. We're going to make fudge to celebrate! I toldyou I had my chafing-dish; don't you girls feel fudgy?"
"I could nibble a morsel," Bernice said, "and not half try. How aboutyou, Dot?"
"I'm right there--with bells on!"
"Isn't it too late?" objected Dolly.
"Now, look here, priggy-wig," and Alicia shook a finger at her, "if youdon't quit that spoilsporting of yours, there'll be trouble in camp!The truth is, there's not much fun in making fudge, just 'cause there'snobody to forbid it! At school, we have to do it on the sly. Here, ifMrs. Berry or Uncle Jeff knew we thought of it, they'd send forty'leven footmen and maids to help us!" "That's so," laughed Dolly; "Iwasn't thinking of them. But isn't it time we all went to bed?"
"Of course it is, young hayseed. That's why we're staying up. Also, itmakes you so delightfully sleepy next morning! Now, do you come to thisfudge party or do you go to bed?"
"Do I come to it!" cried Dolly, in disdain. "Well, I like that! Why,your old fudge party is FOR me! I'm the heroine of the hour! Who wenton your desperate and dangerous errand, I'd like to know! Who gotpermission to invite your old Coriell man to tea? Come, now, declarethe fudge party a feast in my honour, or call it off!"
"It is! it is!" laughed Alicia. "To the victor belong the spoils. Theparty is ALL for you, and if you will accept our humble invitation comeright into our room and make yourself at home."
So the two D's went into the other girls' room, and Alicia got out herchafing-dish set and prepared for the feast.
"How are you going to make fudge with nothing but chocolate?" laughedDotty.
"That's so," said Alicia, looking blank. "I forgot I had to have milkand butter and sugar and a lot of things. Guess we can't do it."
"Guess we can!" retorted Bernice, and she pushed a bell button.
"Oh, Bernie!" exclaimed Dotty, "you oughtn't to call the maid so late!She'll be in bed."
"Then she won't answer," said Bernice, calmly.
But in a moment a maid did come, and smilingly listened to theirrequests.
"Some milk, please," said Alicia, "and sugar, and butter,--"
"All the things for fudge, miss?" asked the girl, her eyes taking inthe chafing-dish. "Certainly. In a moment."
She disappeared and the girls burst into peals of laughter.
"It's impossible to do anything frisky here," said Alicia, "becauseeverything we want to do, is looked on as all right!"
"Well, it isn't a dreadful thing to make fudge of an evening," put inBernice.
"No," agreed Dolly, "but I wouldn't think of doing it at my house.After I'd gone to my room for the night, I mean."
"It's a funny thing," said Alicia, "but all the fun of it's gone now. Idon't care two cents for the fudge, it's the excitement of doing itsecretly, that appeals to me. We do it at school, and we have to be sofearfully careful lest the teachers hear us."
"I know what you mean," said Dolly, "but I don't believe I feel thatway. I love fudge, but I'd a whole lot rather have people know we'remaking it than to do it on the sly."
"You're a little puritan," and Alicia flew over and kissed her. "Nowonder Mrs. Berry said yes to you, you probably made her think it was aduty to humanity!"
When the maid returned with the trayful of things they had asked for,there was also a goodly plate of frosted cakes and a dish of fruit.
"In case you might feel hungry," she explained. "Mrs. Berry was sayingthe other day, how hungry young folks do be gettin'. Shall I return forthe tray, miss?"
"No," said Dolly, kindly. "You go to bed. We'll set the things out inthe hall, when we're finished, and you can take them away in themorning."
"Thank you, miss," and the maid went away, leaving the girls to theirspread.
"I'm not going to make fudge," said Alicia, "there's enough here toeat, without it."
"I'll do it, then," said Dolly. "I'm not going to make all this troubleand then not seem to appreciate it."
She began to cut the chocolate, and Dotty helped her.
Alicia made the chafing-dish ready, and Bernice set out a table forthem.
"This is splendid fudge," Alicia remarked, as at last they sat enjoyingthe feast. "You must give me your recipe."
"Probably just like yours," smiled Dolly; "but it always tastes betterif somebody else makes it."
"Not always! It depends on WHO makes it. This is fine!"
"Even if we are not doing it on the sly? I declare, Alicia, I can'tunderstand that feeling of yours. I s'pose you don't care so much aboutMr. Coriell, since Mrs. Berry is willing."
"It does take the snap out of it," Alicia admitted. "But I couldn't dothat on the sly, anyway. I mean if I had him HERE. I wish I could meethim somewhere else,--at some tearoom, or somewhere."
"Oh, Alicia, I think you're horrid! Nice girls don't do things likethat!" Dolly's big blue eyes expressed such amazement that Alicialaughed outright.
"You little innocent!" she cried.
"I'd rather be innocent than ill-bred," Dolly flashed back.
"Well, wait till you go to boarding-school and you'll ge
t some of thosestrait-laced notions knocked out of you."
"I don't ever expect to go. I wouldn't like to leave home. And thatreminds me, girls, I must skip. I've got to write up my diary before Igo to bed. You do my share of the clearing up, won't you, Dot?"
"'Course I will," and Dolly ran off to the other room while the threecleared away the party and set the tray out in the hall.
"Is Dolly always so goody-goody?" asked Alicia.
Dotty took the question seriously. "I shouldn't call her that," shesaid; "but she isn't very mischievous, and she's as honest as the dayis long. She positively abhors deceit. And, somehow, Alicia, all thethings that you think are fun, are the sort of things she doesn't standfor. That's all. Doll isn't a prig,--is she, Bernice?"
"No; she's as fond of fun as anybody. But Alicia rubs her the wrongway."
"I don't mean to. Only I don't see any harm in pranks that SHE thinksare fearful."
"Well, you ought to bless her for getting the Coriell matter fixed up.I don't believe Mrs. Berry would have done it for any of us. But whenDolly asked her, I s'pose she made it seem all right."
"It IS all right," defended Alicia.
"Oh, I don't know," and Bernice looked doubtful, "I don't think theFayres or Roses would like it much; I doubt if my dad would approve.But what Mrs. Berry says, goes." "It does SO!" assented Alicia, andthen they all said good-night.
Alicia's letter was mailed next morning and to her surprise a replyarrived about noon, brought by a messenger. It said:
My dear Miss Steele:
Your welcome invitation is here. I cannot accept for to-morrow as Ihave an important engagement then, but I will do myself the pleasure ofcalling upon you TO-DAY at four o'clock, and trust I may find you athome.
Sincerely yours, BAYNE CORIELL.
"Oh, isn't it wonderful!" sighed Alicia. "A letter from HIM! Oh, girls,I'm so happy! How CAN I wait for four o'clock!"
She ran away to tell Mrs. Berry of the letter.
"Very well," said the kind-hearted woman, "it's just as well to havehim come to-day. Suppose we have tea in the small reception room, it'scosier than the drawing-room."
"All right," said Alicia. "Will Uncle Jeff come down, do you think?"
"I doubt it. However, I'll tell him you expect Mr. Coriell, and he cando as he likes." Mrs. Berry had a peculiar twinkle in her eye, andAlicia noted it, and wondered what it meant. The whole affair seemedmysterious, for she had not supposed Mrs. Berry would be so ready toreceive this strange young man.
"You think it's all right for us to receive him, don't you, Mrs.Berry?" she asked, for she began to fear lest she had been toounconventional.
"I daresay it's all right, my dear. Of course, such things weren't donein my day, but young folks are different now. And Mr. Forbes said yougirls were to do pretty much as you like."
"Were you surprised at our asking for this?" Alicia persisted.
"Well, yes, since you ask me, I must say I was surprised. Especiallywhen I found Dolly Fayre was the ringleader."
"Oh,--well,--she DID ask you, didn't she? Maybe Dolly isn't such aquiet little mouse as she seems."
"Dolly's all right," and Mrs. Berry spoke with some asperity. "Now,I'll send tea in at quarter past four, is that your idea?"
"Oh, Mrs. Berry, won't you be present?"
"No; I have my duties, and I observe them properly, but to preside attea is not one of them. Your uncle expressly ordered that."
"Do you mean Uncle Jeff ordered that we should receive Mr. Coriellalone?"
"Well, he didn't direct that _I_ should be there. If he wants to comedown, he will."
"Very well," and Alicia suddenly became dignified, "we can manage. Isuppose it will be proper to dress up a good deal?"
Again that amused smile flitted over Mrs. Berry's face.
"As you like," she said, indifferently. "All your frocks are pretty."
Alicia returned to the others, and told them all the conversation.
"I hope Uncle Forbes does come down," said Dolly, "I think it would benicer to have him there."
"Come, now, old mother Prim, don't throw cold water on our littleparty," said Alicia. "You know how the conversation would run, withuncle at the helm!"
"It wouldn't run at all," laughed Bernice, "it would stagnate!"
When the girls began to dress for the tea, there was a wide diversityof opinion as to appropriate costumes.
"Our very best," said Alicia decidedly. "Nothing's too good for Bayne!"
"You'd better be careful," warned Dotty, "you'll call him Bayne to hisface! You use it so much!"
"Don't care if I do!" returned Alicia, pertly. "I say, Doll, is THATyour best frock?"
"Yes, except an evening one."
"Let's see your evening one. I'll bet it's just about right for thisafternoon."
Dolly produced a pretty light blue affair of chiffon, and Aliciaexclaimed, "Wear that, of course. It's really no evening dress at all,but it's a very nice afternoon thing."
Dolly looked dubious. "What are you going to wear, Dots?" she said.
"Oh, I s'pose we might as well wear our best ones. As Alicia says,they're all right for afternoon here, though they wouldn't be inBerwick."
"All right," and Dolly put on her pretty fluffy dress. Very lovely shelooked, her golden curls twisted up high on her head, and held by abandeau of blue ribbon.
Dotty's dress was yellow, and very becoming. She wore a black velvetheadband, and Alicia cried out in approval when she saw the two D'sready for inspection.
"My!" she said, "you look better than I do! Now, I am mad!"
But her rage was only simulated, and she didn't really think what shesaid.
She herself wore a most elaborate embroidered dress of rich pink silk.It was trimmed, too, with pearl bead fringe, and to Dolly's simpletaste it was too fussy. But Dotty admired it, and Bernice thought itwonderful.
"It IS a good thing," said Alicia, carelessly. "It's imported. I'venever had it on before."
Bernice had a lovely dress of white tulle, with white satinribbons;--lovely, that is, for evening, but too dressy for daytime.However, as the winter dusk fell early, the lights were on, and itseemed almost like evening.