“Just the thing! You do that, and let me help plan your party. You mustn’t have a grand ball, you know.”
“I’ll do just as you say, Dolly,” replied Bernice, meekly.
“All right,” and Dolly laughed. “This is like planning a campaign, and I s’pose it’s sort of foolish for girls of our age, but you’re in wrong, and if I can set you right, I’m only too glad to. And I can, if you’ll do as I say.”
“I’m jolly glad to do as you say! But will the crowd come to my party?”
“ ’Course they will. I’ll make ’em. Now, wait, I know you don’t like to have them come ’cause they’re made to, but it’s got to be that way at first, and then it’s up to you to make it so pleasant they’ll want to come again.”
“But seems to me I’m doing most of this.”
“Oh, that’s the way it seems to you, does it? Does it! Well, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but you try it without me, and see where you bring up!”
Dolly was a little annoyed at Bernice’s readiness to accept her advices and ignore the very real help that Dolly was able and willing to give.
“I know, Dolly. I sort of forgot myself.”
“Well, you try to remember yourself! And remember too, that while I want you to be one of us, at the same time, I’m bothering about you for the reason I told you when I first came here. I’m not doing it for your sake, but for my own. And, another thing. I want to stay in Berwick mostly, because Dotty Rose is here, and she and I are intimate friends and always will be. She’s ready and glad to help us in this scheme, but it’s because she wants to keep me here in Berwick. So, Bernice Forbes, don’t you try to come between Dot and me, for it won’t do a bit of good and it will do you a lot of harm.”