“But think how she’d enjoy it! Martha almost never gets invited to a lovely outing like this one you have in prospect. Why, she’d be overjoyed to go.”
“Yes’m, I s’pose she would,” admitted Dorothy; “but she’s—she’s so bashful, you know.”
“That’s mostly because you girls slight her. Now you’ve a fine opportunity to give her a pleasure, do it, and do it heartily and kindly. Let her feel that you really want her to go with you.”
“Yes, do,” said Betty; “and, truly, Dot, if you ask her as if you wanted her, and if you treat her cordially, you’ll be surprised to see how gay and jolly Martha will be.”
“All right,” said Dorothy, agreeably; “I really do like her, and I’ll do my best. Come on, Betty, let’s go and ask her now.”
Betty whisked away, and returned in a few minutes with her hat on, ready to start. It was but a short walk through the bright May sunshine to Martha’s house, and they found her in the garden, watering some flower seeds she had just planted.
“Hello, Martha!” called the two girls, and she came running to meet them.
“Come, sit on the veranda,” she said; “it’s so pleasant there. I’m glad you came to see me.”
“We’ve come to invite you to a party,” said Dorothy, plunging into the subject at once.
“A party!” exclaimed Martha. “Where?”