CHAPTER XV
Elizabeth Wears Blue
IF Betsy had not gone to the city with her aunt Emily on that rainy Saturday it is doubtful if Elizabeth had been willing to spend so long a time at the studio. As it was, Betsy had an account of the day’s delights, and agreed with her first best that the game was scarcely worth the candle as it deprived her of future visits.
“I suppose your mother didn’t say how long it would be before you could go again,” said Betsy gravely.
“No; that’s just it,” replied Elizabeth. “I shall be on the tattered edge of despair for who knows how long. Perhaps if I am very, very good she will lift the dread decree sooner than if I were very, very bad. Well,” Elizabeth sighed, “I suppose that those who dance must pay the piper. It will always be a luminous day in the almanac of my thoughts. Now tell me, Betsy, what sort of day did you have?”
“Oh, the usual kind. We shopped all the morning and went to the same place for lunch that we always go, then aunt Emily called on old Miss Peters, and we took the five o’clock train; that’s all.”
“Did you get the new hat?”
“Yes, and the stuff for two new frocks. Miss Cutter comes next week, you know. One of the frocks is very pretty, I think; a challis with weentsy blue flowers sprinkled over it. I am going to wear blue ribbons with it.”
“I love blue and I can never, never wear it, Betsy,” said Elizabeth, shaking her head mournfully.
“Oh well, I wouldn’t care. Maybe your children can, or at least some of them, and that will do just as well.”
“That is a very comforting thought,” returned Elizabeth, “and you may be very sure, Betsy, that I will treat with spurn any man with red hair who comes to woo me.”