"What are we to do, Mrs. Bobs?" Jack asked eagerly. This opportunity to help was dear to her heart.
"You are to hand around the salted nuts," she said, "and Jean can see that every one has some of those chocolates. Mary Lee can pass the tea as the señorita pours it and Nan can look after the café frappé, or she can see that the candles don't burn down so low as to set fire to the shades."
"I think those yellow shades are lovely," said Nan. "I am glad you decided on them, for this is the land of sunshine and it makes everything look sunshiny. I even feel so inside of me. I don't think any one could express California in anything but yellow."
"Oh, Nan, Nan," said Mrs. Roberts, "you are always ready to say such nice things. She will never have 'pale pink thoughts,' will she, Miss Helen? They will have to glow a rich red or a golden yellow."
"Now, who is saying nice things?" said Nan kissing her. "I'd like to stay right here, but I must keep an eye on Jack or she will be up a tree or over a fence before we know it." And she went too to seek the twins.
Jack, however, was quite conscious of the importance of keeping her festal garments in good order, and so far, had done nothing to soil them. She and Jean were walking around and around the table when Nan found them. They were making note of all the decorations, and were casting anticipatory glances upon the dishes of bon-bons and fancy cakes.
"In the sweet by and by you shall have some," said Nan coming upon them.
"Are you sure the company won't eat them all up?" asked Jean anxiously.
"Yes, piggy-wiggy, I am sure they will not, and even if they should eat all these there are plenty more where these came from. I saw the boxes myself."
"Is there going to be ice-cream?" inquired Jack.