"Weren't we to go somewhere this afternoon?" asked Janet.
"We were, but we are not," replied Edna without looking up. "There's a note there on the table from Hester Reeves asking us to excuse her from going to Mrs. Talbot's tea."
"That's funny," returned Janet. "I met Hester in the library just now and she barely spoke to me. What have we done, Ted?"
"I'm sure I don't know," responded Edna, looking puzzled. "I am quite sure I haven't made fun of any of her relations, and I did not monopolize her best young man at the reception the other night."
"I cannot plead guilty to either of those crimes, nor to having been anything but most amiable. It's sort of awkward, isn't it, Ted, to be treated as if you were guilty when you are in a state of conscious innocence? What are these?" She took up two notes lying on the table.
"Oh those? I suppose yours is the same as mine. I am glad we have settled on our fraternity."
Janet glanced at her note. "Ted," she exclaimed, "I do believe this accounts for it. Hester Reeves has been rushing us after all, and we silly-billies didn't see through it. We thought it was all for our own sweet sakes, or for the sake of Effie Chandler." She sat down and began to laugh.
"I wonder if that is it," said Edna after a moment's thought.
"I certainly believe it is."
"Well, I said she looked like a person who was bound to have her own way. I'll bet she is furious."