But she had to admit to Beth that Mr. Severn was quick at repartee. “It isn’t often that anybody gets the best of lil’ Molly. I wonder if I could draw a portrait of him—as a cat, of course—or perhaps a fish!”
It was a gay and busy holiday time for Beth. The family seemed particularly glad to see her. And Beth found a new spirit of hopefulness in the little cottage.
Marcus had been taking a business course at an evening school for some time. Young as he was, he had been advanced by his employer to the typewriter and was drawing eight dollars a week. Mr. Baldwin seemed very cheerful, too, and Beth thought he seemed a hundred per cent. better.
Larry and she had been acting the part of very good friends for nearly a fortnight; but for two days after her return home Beth did not see the young lawyer at all.
“Was he going to withdraw into his shell again?” she queried. She scarcely knew what to make of Larry in some of his moods; and she was old enough now to resent such conduct.
But on the third evening Larry appeared at the Bemis Street cottage, and evidently in high spirits. He brought from his mother a particular and written invitation for Beth to be present at an evening function at Mrs. Haven’s, scheduled to occur in the week between Christmas and New Year.
“You ought, really, to have a new dress,” Mrs. Baldwin said, all of a flutter. “Euphemia always has such nice people at her evening parties.”
“Tempt me not!” laughed Beth. “I have been hobnobbing with the rich so long, that Mrs. Haven’s dressiest affairs have no terrors for me. Besides, I can’t afford it. Moreover, the black lace and silver is new here in Hudsonvale.”
“Likewise,” said Ella, with her head on one side like a saucy sparrow, “Larry has never seen her in that.”
Beth drove her out of the room then; but it was for another reason. She asked, frankly: “Mamma Baldwin, don’t you think I am old enough now to wear Great-grandmother Lomis’ corals?”