Bernice was right. It would have been far better if Mr. Forbes had exercised a kind supervision over his daughter and her ways, instead of giving her this unquestioning approbation. But such was his nature, and the motherless girl suffered in consequence.
However, Bernice took to heart her father’s talk about being agreeable, and began at once to put it in practice. She was astonished to find how easy it was. Often she stifled an impulse to contradict, and discovered that she could honestly agree just as well.
But it was slow work. Nobody seemed ready to meet her half-way. Even the Two D’s had become disheartened, for the girls and boys tired of showing Bernice attention just because Dolly and Dotty asked them to.
And about a week before the Christmas holidays, Mr. Fayre told his family that they might as well begin to pack up.
“Nothing more will be said until after January first,” he remarked, “but there seems no hope of a change of plans. You know what Forbes is. I’d rather not speak to him on the subject, and get snubbed for my pains.”
“But you might just ask him, Father,” said Trudy. “I hate to resign from my club and give up my place on the Concert Committee, unless we’re surely going away.”
“You may as well give them up, Trudy,” answered her father, “for we’re sure to go.”
“When?” asked Dolly, with a quivering lip.
“About the middle of January, dear. I’m very sorry for you, Dolly, girlie, but you can have Dotty to visit you a lot, and you can visit her.”
“And Treasure House?” said Dolly, in a broken voice.