“Yes, very,” Peggy assured her. “And we girls are going to cook the dinner,—to show what clever people you are training up in this school, you know.”
For Peggy had decided within herself that Mrs. Forest need not know that the girls were going to purchase the supplies for the dinner, also. If Mr. Huntington made a good impression on the principal just as things were, then let well enough alone, was her idea.
A curious, weighing look had crept into Mrs. Forest’s eyes. Peggy thought she was trying to decide whether or not to permit the girls to accept, and to go herself. But the principal’s next remark showed that she had already come way beyond that phase of the question and was actively considering even the remote advantages that might accrue as a result of their joint appearance at Huntington House on Thanksgiving day.
“Perhaps,” she said softly, “perhaps—Mr. Huntington’s affairs are turning out a bit better nowadays and he might be willing to donate fifty dollars to the new gymnasium we need so badly.”
Peggy put her hand over her mouth to stop the sudden exclamation of dismay that she must otherwise have uttered. The school did need a decent gymnasium, everybody knew that. And Mrs. Forest besought every rich girl who came to the school to interest her parents to the extent of getting them to give contributions. For five thousand dollars they could build a very nice one, large enough for their comparatively small school, and well enough equipped to start. Once in a while a girl in the spirit of generous affection for Andrews gave ten dollars or so out of her allowance, but the fund was not coming along very fast.
The idea of going to a party at Mr. Huntington’s house and then dunning that poor old man for a portion of the expense of building something in which he could really have not the least particle of interest was particularly repugnant to Peggy.
“Graft, Mrs. Forest,” she said daringly, shaking her finger and laughing a little. “Regular graft, and no fair.”
As Mrs. Forest flushed and tried to smile Peggy recalled the curious remark Mr. Huntington had made about people coming to him for money every time “certain rumors” came up afresh. She pondered over this.
“I will write a little note of acceptance,” Mrs. Forest mused.
And, after dinner, to the anguish of all the girls, she did.