CHAPTER XVII
An Invitation
"BETTIE," asked Jean, when the girls were "hustling up" the chocolatein Mrs. Mapes' kitchen (the weather was now too cold for DandelionCottage to be habitable), "where did you find her?"
"At school," replied Bettie. "She comes in for Domestic Science. I'veseen her about three times, and every time she's had that stiff MissRossitor laughing. You know who that girl is, don't you?"
"I've heard something," said Marjory, "but I can't just remember what,about some girl named Henrietta."
"Well, you've seen Mrs. Howard Slater?"
All the girls had seen Mrs. Slater, the beautifully gowned, decidedlyaristocratic old lady with abundant but perfectly white hair andbright, sparkling black eyes. Mrs. Slater, who seemed a very reservedand exclusive person, had spent many summers and even an occasionalwinter in her own handsome home in Lakeville. She lived alone exceptfor a number of servants; for both her son and her daughter weremarried. The son lived abroad, no one knew just where; and some fouryears previously Mrs. Slater's daughter, who was Henrietta's mother,had died in Rome. Since that event Henrietta had been cared for by heruncle's wife; and she had spent a winter in California and anotherin Florida with her grandmother, but this was her first visit toLakeville. It was said that Henrietta's mother had left her littledaughter a very respectable fortune, that her father, an Englishtraveler of note, was also wealthy, and it was known to a certaintythat Mrs. Howard Slater was a moneyed person.
"Yes," said Marjory, replying to Bettie's question, "we sit behind Mrs.Slater in church, and she's the very daintiest old lady that everlived. She's as slim and straight as any young girl. She's perfectlylovely to look at, but----"
"Yes, 'but,'" agreed Jean. "She seems very proud and notvery--get-nearable. I don't know whether I'd like to live with her ornot; but I know I'd feel terribly set up to own a few relatives that_looked_ like that."
"How do you like Henrietta?" asked Mabel.
"I don't know," said Bettie.
"Neither do I," replied Jean.
"It takes time," declared Marjory, "to discover whether you like aperson or not. And when it's such a different person--truly, she isn'ta bit like any other girl in this town--it takes longer."
"The chocolate's ready," announced Jean, opening a box of wafers."Here, Bettie, you carry Henrietta's cup and I'll take these. Let's_all_ have our chocolate on the sidewalk."
Henrietta, her hands in her pockets, was leaning against thefence and humming a tune. Her voice, in speaking, was very nicelymodulated--which was fortunate, because she used it a great deal. Shestraightened up when the door opened.
"I'm an icicle," said she. "I hope that chocolate's good and hot. My!What a nice big cup! And wafers! I'm glad I stayed for your party. I'vehad chocolate in France, in Germany, in Italy, in Switzerland and inEngland, but I do believe this is the very first time I've had any inAmerica."
"I'm sorry," said Jean, "that you have to have your first on thesidewalk."
"I shan't, next time," promised Henrietta. "I have a beautiful plan.I made it while waiting for the chocolate. You're all to come afterschool to-morrow and pay me a formal call. Then I'll return it. Afterthat, I suspect I shall be allowed to run in. But first you'll have tocall, formally."
"A formal call!" gasped Bettie.
"We never made a formal call in all our lives," objected Jean.
"They're dreadful," agreed Henrietta, "but in this case you'll reallyhave to do it. I've planned it all nicely. In the first place, you musthand your cards to the butler----"
"Cards!" gasped Jean and Bettie.
"Cards!" snorted Mabel, flushing indignantly. "We haven't a card to ournames!"
"You _must_ have them," declared Henrietta, firmly, "or Simmons mayconsider you suspicious characters. Simmons is a very lofty person.You can write some, you know, because Simmons holds his chin so highthat it interferes with the view, so he'll never know what's on them.Then you must be very polite to Grandmother and say 'Yes, ma'am,''No, ma'am,' 'Thank you, ma'am'--and not very much else. You've seenGrandmother, of course? Then you know how very formal and stiff shelooks. Well, _you_ must be like that, too."
"I'll try," said Mabel, "but it'll be pretty hard work."
"Be sure to wear gloves," cautioned Henrietta. "Grandmother isexceedingly particular about shoes and gloves. I know it's a lot oftrouble, but you'll find it pays; for after you've beaten down the icybarrier that surrounds me, you'll find me quite a comfortable person.And _do_ come just as early as you can--I'm really desperately lonely."
This was a different Henrietta from the merry one that Bettie hadencountered. That other Henrietta had made her laugh. This one, withthe wistful, sorrowful countenance and the four words "I'm reallydesperately lonely," was almost moving her to tears.
"You'll surely come," pleaded Henrietta.
"We'll come," promised Bettie, "cards and all."
"_Au revoir_," said Henrietta, carefully balancing her cup on the toprail of the fence. "I must run along now to try on my clothes."
"Was that French?" queried Mabel, gazing after the departing figure.
"I think so," replied Jean.
"She can certainly talk English fast enough," said Marjory. "I supposejust one language _isn't_ enough for anybody that chatters like that."
"Do you think," asked Bettie, "she meant all that about cards andgloves and butlers? She's so full of fun most of the time that I don'texactly know whether to believe her or not."
"I think she did," said Marjory. "You see, I sit behind Mrs. Slater inchurch--and I'm thankful that it's behind."
"Perhaps that's the reason," ventured Bettie, "that nobody'll rent thethree pews in front of her. Father says it's hard to even give themaway. No one likes to sit in them."
"That's it," agreed Marjory. "One would have to be sure that her backhair was absolutely perfect to be at all comfortable in front of Mrs.Slater."
"And that," groaned discouraged Mabel, "is the sort of person I'm tomake my first formal call on."
"You'd better take your bath to-night," advised Jean, "and lay out allyour very best clothes. And don't forget to polish your shoes."
"Father has some blank cards," said Bettie, "and he writes beautifully.I'll get him to do cards for all of us."
"I think," said Marjory, with a puzzled air, "that we ought to takefive or six apiece. I know Aunty Jane leaves a whole lot at one house,sometimes."
"No," corrected Jean, "we need just two. One for Mrs. Slater and onefor Henrietta. My aunt, Mrs. Halliday, always gets two whenever hersister-in-law is visiting there."
"There are holes in my best gloves," mourned Bettie. "They came in amissionary box, and missionary gloves are never very good even tostart with. Besides, Dick wore them first--I never had a _new_ pair ofkid gloves."
"Never mind," said always generous Mabel. "I must have about six pairsand I've never had any of the things on. I know I've outgrown some ofthem. Your hands are lots smaller than mine. Come over and I'll fix youout--Mother said we'd have to give them to somebody and I guess you'rejust exactly the right somebody. I hate the thing myself."
"Goody!" rejoiced Bettie.
"I wish," said Jean, "that my shoes were newer, but I'll get the boysto black 'em."
"I can't help _you_ out," laughed Mabel. "My shoes are short and fatand yours are long and slim."
"A coat of Wallace's blacking will be all that's needed, thank you,Mabel. There's nothing like having brothers when it comes to blackingshoes."
"We'll have to get up a little earlier to-morrow morning," said Marjory.
"Mercy!" exclaimed Jean, "are you leaving all those chocolate cups onthe fence for _me_ to carry in?"
"Of course not," said obliging Bettie, seizing two. "Come on, you lazypeople."