"There is so much of her to be dear," returned Harry, "so of course she should always be called dearest. Her mother is a duck, I will admit, and they do have jolly times at The Beeches. Did you ever see Elly Fan play tennis? You haven't? Then you have something to live for."
"Do you call her Elly Fan to her face?" asked Anita.
"Oh, dear, no! I call her Miss Eleanor most respectfully."
The Teanesses were old friends of Mrs. Manning as well as of her niece, who, when she was Katharine Drayton had gone to school with Mrs. Teaness, then Eleanor Fox. The old friendship had been renewed and frequent were the invitations to The Beeches. It was to invite the girls over to a small garden party that the Teanesses had now come. Eleanor, the elder of the two girls, would have been really pretty but for her all too ample proportions. She had a lovely complexion, a sweet mouth and the sunniest expression. Even though her friends made fun of her they liked her. Alicia, the younger sister, was a quiet, rather nondescript young person, a little shy, but, as Mr. Kirkby said, a good listener. Harry Warren always made a point of carrying on a most obvious and nonsensical flirtation with Eleanor, who understood him perfectly and laughed at everything he said.
"We were so afraid we should miss you," said Eleanor, as Anita came in with Harry.
"How dear of you to say that," cried Harry.
"I didn't mean you, silly," responded Eleanor. "Anita, dear, we do hope you and Lillian can come over to our little garden party on Monday. Not much of an affair, but these days when everyone is so anxious and looks so solemn we do want to try to do cheerful things."
"I'm sure we shall love to come," Anita assured her.
"Do I come, too?" inquired Harry with mock anxiety.
"Oh, of course, and Bertie, too. I suppose he is here."