“I’d like that too,” returned Basil. “That is a fine plan, Mrs. Holmes; thank you for thinking of it. Will you write to her, or shall I?”
“I will write, and I am sure the girls will be heartily glad to be of your party.”
Persis was exuberant over the prospect. “Are you sure Mr. Dan will go, Basil?” she asked. “I should like to have him. I wonder why he hasn’t been to see us lately.”
“I haven’t seen him, myself, lately,” Basil told her. “His mother has been very ill, and he has been away for weeks, but he is back again now, and I think he will go.”
“Tell me all about it,” said Persis. “When, how, and where are we to go?”
“The twenty-fourth of April is the date; we are to go in a big three-seated affair that can be hired from Dunn’s stables; and I want you girls to deck yourselves out in the college colors. We’ll have streamers on the whip, and ‘fustunes,’ as Prue calls them, on the wagon. Then we will go to the Inn for supper, and come home by moonlight.”
“Oh, what a lovely arrangement!” cried Persis. “We shall enjoy it so much. I do hope it will be a nice clear day, not too cold.”
Mrs. Dixon accepted the invitation, and on the eventful afternoon, which proved to be bright and clear, there was quite an excited little company ready to start for the grounds.
Lisa cast a swift look at the big vehicle as it drove up. There were three young men within,—Walter Dixon, Basil, and—not Mr. Danforth, but Wilson Vane.
“I was afraid Mr. Dan couldn’t come,” Basil informed them, “so Wilson is going out with us, and we may meet Mr. Dan out there. If he finds he can come, we can easily make room for him.” And taking the reins he started up the horses, and they were soon on their way.