As it was about ten feet long, it was nearly unmanageable, but at last they managed to fasten it up above the mantel, and it surely gave evidence of a hearty welcome to the coming guest.
“I found this in the attic, too,” said King, unrolling a smaller strip of muslin.
This bore the legend “We Mourn Our Loss,” and had been used many years before, beneath the portrait of a martyred President.
“I thought,” he explained, “that it seemed too bad to make such a hullabaloo over Miss Larkin, and make no reference to Father and Mother.”
“Oh, I think so, too,” cried Marjorie. “It will be lovely to put this up in memory of them. Shall we drape it in black?”
“No, you goose!” said King. “They aren’t dead! We’ll put a little flag at each corner, like a Bon Voyage thing, or whatever you call it.”
“Oh, yes; like the pillow Mother sent to Miss Barstow when she went to Europe. That had a flag in each corner, and Bon Voyage right across it, cattycorner. What does Bon Voyage mean, anyway?”
“It means ‘hope you have a good time,’ ” said Kitty; “and I’m sure we hope Father and Mother will have a good time.”
“Yes, I know,” said Midget, “but what has that got to do with Miss Larkin?”
“Oh, well, we may as well do our decorating all in one room,” said sensible Kitty. “Come on, let’s hurry up and finish; I’m awful tired, and hungry, too.”