“Persis is fairly bubbling over,” Annis asserted.
“Oh, I am; and I am as hungry as a hunter. Oh! what’s that?”
“Only a gong, my child,” replied Mrs. Estabrook, looking with amused eyes at the two girls, who had started at the sound of the clamorous summons. “It is the same old gong that has sounded here for dinner these fifty years.”
“Oh, is that it? Now that I know it is such a dear old-fashioned thing, I am charmed with it,” Persis assured the others. “I am ready to admire everything antique, you know, so long as they draw the line at butter and mutton.”
Passing through the long porch, down a flight of steps, through another porch to the other end of the building, they reached the dining-room, where a most excellent and plentiful dinner was served them. “Fried chicken and hot biscuits,” said Persis. “Now I know I am in Virginia. I think this place is perfectly fascinating. I am almost sorry we shall never be able to live here. Oh, Annis, maybe we can start our paper here.” And they both laughed.
Up the long street, along whose sides were gardens where lilacs were making ready to bloom, they took their way that afternoon, and finally stopped at one of the oldest houses, long, low, and white.
“The Grææ live here,” whispered Persis. “I think they still have only one tooth between them.”
Annis nodded appreciatively and looked around with curiosity at the huge brass knocker which Mrs. Estabrook lifted.
With exclamations of pleased astonishment the visitors were greeted by the eldest of the sisters. “Why, Persis Carter, it isn’t you!” exclaimed Miss Cyrene. “Columbus,” addressing a small colored boy, “go tell Miss Sidney and Miss Babe that our cousins are here. And these are your grandchildren, I suppose, Persis. Come here, my dears; let me look at you. They are quite young ladies.”
“Only one is my grand-daughter. I will leave you to guess who the other is,” returned Mrs. Estabrook.