But the two lady’s-maids declared they wanted to go, saying it was great fun to attend on the high-bred foreigners.
And the fun was greatly increased when, on reaching the pavilion, they met Uncle Ned and Aunt Molly.
Mrs. Lennox greeted these delightful people, and presented them to her guests.
The lady’s-maids sat, demurely unobtrusive, a little apart from the group, but not out of range of Uncle Ned’s merry eyes, which twinkled and winked at them whenever opportunity offered.
“Those are uncommonly pretty attendants you have, Mrs. Lennox,” said Uncle Ned, in a stage-whisper; but Aunt Molly pulled his coat-tail furtively, and said, “How blue the sea is to-night!”
Meantime Mrs. Lennox’s usually quiet and dignified home was the scene of wonderful hilarity.
Jessie and Betty were recounting all the details of the dinner at which they had served so successfully. Marguerite confessed that she and Nan had basely spied from behind the portières. Hester and Marjorie owned up that their iced pudding had failed to freeze properly, and they had had to send Helen to the confectioner’s for ices.
But all agreed that Mrs. Lennox was a dear, and that they were glad of the opportunity to help her in her time of need.
Not realizing how fast time was flying, they gathered in the music-room, and Marguerite played on Mrs. Lennox’s grand piano, while all sang their favorite songs lustily and with a will.
“Now,” cried Marguerite, “in honor of our distinguished English guests and our far more distinguished English cook, we will sing ‘Rule Britannia!’ ”