"That's what I think," said Mary Lee. "She needs only wings."
"I'd rather she didn't have them," returned Jack, "for then she might fly away from us."
"Such flattery," laughed the señorita. "I am getting spoiled among you all." But she looked well content to be admired and her face wore a gladder look than any of them had ever seen upon it.
Mrs. Corner in her gray gown and Miss Helen in filmy black had their share of compliments while the girls themselves were well satisfied to wear the pretty frocks their grandmother had brought from Europe and had given them for Betty Wise's party, and although Mary Lee declared the señorita outshone them all, Nan would not admit that for a moment, but maintained that her mother was the first and Aunt Helen next.
CHAPTER XIV
THE TEA
"Flowers, flowers everywhere. It looks like fairyland," said Nan as she stepped into the house the afternoon of the tea. From behind a screen of roses issued soft music played by an unseen orchestra. All up the stairway stood pots of graceful palms, the balustrades were garlanded, the dining-room was a bower, the veranda a place beautiful. Mr. Pinckney was the presiding genius of the occasion, his beaming face appearing as a welcome as soon as the Corners arrived.
"My! What angels are these?" he said.
"They are the ones who belong to this Paradise," said Nan quickly.
"Do we look nice, Mr. St. Nick?" asked Jean. "Do you think my frock is pretty? I have worn it only once before and I have on silk stockings. Do you want to see them?" She held out a silken clad foot. "We are all wearing our very nicest things that came from Europe. We think mother is perfectly lovely, but Mary Lee won't say she looks prettier than the señorita."