“Oh, Perse, you don’t mean it; you’re joking!” responded Lisa.
Persis shook her head. “No. I happen to remember that you have a new coat this winter, and the most becoming hat you ever wore, so it seems a wicked waste of material for you not to go. So I’ll stay at home and ride the boys’ bikes.”
“I believe you’d rather do it,” returned Lisa, to ease her conscience.
“I think I ought not to consent to the exchange,” began Mrs. Holmes; but Persis was firm, and, having her determination fixed, almost persuaded herself that the staying at home was the more desirable.
Mellicent felt herself out of the question, and went to grandma for sympathy, while one appreciative look from her father made Persis very happy over her sacrifice.
It was, therefore, in high spirits that the party took leave. “Everything will go on much better than if I had been left at home,” said Lisa, graciously. “You are such a fine manager, Perse, and I do hate marketing. Good-bye. I’ll write as soon as I get there.” And with a nod and a smile Lisa disappeared from view.
Matters went on smoothly for the first day or two. Persis was too busy with her lessons and her housewifely duties to think of much else. The housemaid had been with the family for several years and understood the routine of work, while the girls could not remember the time when old black Prue had not presided over the kitchen. Besides, there was grandma to decide upon important matters; so the responsibility upon Persis’s shoulders was not very heavy.
The boys had been the chief source of anxiety; but they had proved themselves to be comparatively obedient, and, having been put upon their honor, were disposed to conduct themselves becomingly, especially as Mr. Holmes had told them they were expected to be the protectors of the household.
Therefore the absence of three important members of the family did not make such a material difference in the daily life as might be supposed, and everything went along smoothly for several days. But one afternoon when Prue was out, Lyddy the housemaid gone on an errand, and the boys were off at the base-ball grounds something occurred to ruffle the serene flow of events.
“Now we have the place all to ourselves, let’s make some gingerbread, Mell,” suggested Persis. “We’ll begin it before Lyddy comes back, and it will be done before dark. We’ll give grandma a surprise; she does enjoy warm gingerbread. Come on and let’s see if there is a good fire.”