"And don't tell who it is, please, Mummy, because I have a little plot of my own on hand."
She sealed and addressed this important missive quite blandly under her mother's eyes.
Mrs. Leighton could not make it out. She was inclined to fall into Aunt Katharine's ways and say, "In my young days, young people were not so blatant."
Mr. Leighton shook his head over her having allowed the invitation to go.
"You can't tell what net she may become entangled in," he said, "and Symington cleared out in a very sudden manner, you know." He could not get that out of his mind.
Mrs. Leighton harked back to the old formula. "Elma is only a child," she said, "with too much of a superb imagination. She will have a lot of fancies before she is done."
Elma saw her letter posted, with only Mrs. Leighton and Miss Grace in the secret. She felt completely relieved and happy. Nothing had pleased her so much for a long time.
"Why, Elma, your cheeks are getting pink at last," said Adelaide Maud.
She had come in to spend the afternoon with Elma while the others went to the dressmaker for the all-important gowns. Adelaide Maud had said she would come if Elma were to be quite alone. And Elma meant to be quite alone until Cuthbert came down by an early train. Then, after Adelaide Maud was announced, she rather hoped that Cuthbert might appear.
"Are you sure they are pink," she asked Adelaide Maud, "because I used to be so anxious that I might look pale."