Mrs. Weston read the note, then re-read it to Randy.
“Oh, may I go, could you spare me?” said Randy, eagerly.
“Why, yes indeed,” said her mother; “there is less than usual to do to-day, and nothing at all after dinner. Fly ’round and get cleared up, and you can put on your clean red and white gingham and your new hat and go over early.”
“Fly ’round!” Randy did fly, and by two o’clock she was off down the road, walking as fast as her feet and her enthusiasm would take her.
What could Miss Dayton be planning, thought Randy, as she hastened toward the farm-house where Helen was staying.
Helen saw her coming and opened the door, smiling at Randy’s questioning face, which expressed a world of interest in Helen’s scheme, whatever it might be.
“Come right in, take off your hat, and sit down and I will tell you all about my plan for an evening’s pleasure. You know I promised when I first met you that I would try to make this summer just a bit gay during my stay here. Now I believe we shall all enjoy an evening of tableaux,” but here Helen was obliged to pause and explain just what tableaux were, “and,” she continued, “I think that any one of the large girls who attended the picnic, and a few of the little ones, will make a very nice set of pictures.”
“Oh, I should think it would be lovely, but,” Randy added doubtfully, “what could we wear that would be nice enough for pictures or tab—”
“Tableaux,” said Helen.
“Yes, tableaux,” said Randy.