“You must be serious and not laugh, remember!” Polly warned her. “I’ll go home now and get the things. We must have everything ready by three o’clock.”
It was nearly noon when Roxy returned home and whispered to Dulcie that she must be sure to have the birthday cake at the big sycamore by four o’clock, and Dulcie chuckling with delight promised to be in good time.
As soon as dinner was over Mrs. Delfield reminded her mother that they were to go for a drive, and had better start at once; and Mrs. Miller was surprised to find that her white horse was already harnessed to the tall buggy and at the door, and with a smiling word to Roxy, Mrs. Delfield helped her mother into the carriage and they drove off.
And now Roxy ran up to her own room quickly followed by Dulcie with a big pitcher of hot water.
“W’ile yo’ is a bathin’ I’ll fetch yo’ white muslin dress. De ruffles all sets out as fine as kin be,” said Dulcie.
“And bring my bronze slippers and blue sash,” called Roxy, for she was resolved that to-day the little Hinham girls should see her in a dress as white as their own.
“Of course I’ll have to cover it all up for the circus, but when they come they’ll see me looking just as nice as they look themselves,” she thought, as she brushed her wavy brown hair until it crinkled and shone, and when Dulcie had tied it with a wide blue ribbon and fastened Roxy’s sash she exclaimed admiringly:
“Yo’ suttin’ly do look fine, Missy Roxy. Yo’ looks jes’ as if yo’ might a bin born in Marylan’! Yo’ sho’ does!” And Dulcie was sure no one could expect or receive higher praise than this. “Now step keerful, chile!” she warned the little girl, as Roxy put on a pretty leghorn hat trimmed with blue flowers, and started off for the sycamore.
Mrs. Delfield had promised to bring Grandma Miller to the big tree at exactly three o’clock, and at that time everything was in readiness.
The guests had been told to follow the path leading from the stone bridge beside the brook, and Polly, wearing a blue dimity dress with white collar and sash, and Roxy were ready to meet and welcome them and lead them to the seat where Grandma Miller would receive them.