“Shan’t tell you,” returned Ran with a mischievous smile. He was a tall lad, with blue eyes and sandy hair, not handsome but with a frank, pleasant face that at once inspired confidence. Ashby was not so tall. He had the same colored hair but his eyes were gray. He was a little shy, but was always ready to do anything for others he could, but always did it in a quiet, unassuming way.
There was much scurrying to and fro for the rest of the day, much laughter and fun over the arrangements for the evening.
“I am glad we have something to occupy us,” said Daniella as they sat down to dinner, “for the breaking up of a good time always does make me sad.”
“Then you have had a good time, Danny, and are glad you came,” Miss Helen said.
“Oh, I am glad. I have never had such a good time.”
“Not even in Europe?”
“No, because it was all so strange and new, and I was trying so hard to understand and take in everything, while here I’ve been with you all and it has been so free. There were no lessons, no strange languages, no buildings I ought to know about, no pictures I ought to see.”
Miss Helen smiled at the frank confession. It was evident that while Daniella’s trip to Europe had been of great benefit in the matter of education, it had weighed rather heavily upon her at the time.
Presently Mary Lee came in and drew up her chair with a sigh of fatigue. “I’m tired,” she said. “I do hate to pack, but I have about finished.”
“You are forehanded, Mary Lee,” said her aunt.