“Yes, the real thing,” said Tess proudly. “Potted palms and hand-painted place-cards and orchestra music and candle shades and everything!”
“Candle shades?—won't it be daylight at six o'clock?”
“Well, then, we'll pull down the window shades,” said Tess, undisturbed. “Candle-light 'll add—”
Aunt Nettie, who couldn't keep still any longer, cut in:
“Will you tell me where you're going to get an orchestra?”
“Oh,” said Tess, with an air of patience, “we're going to fix the date on a band-practice night. I guess they'd be willing to practice on your porch if we gave them some ice-cream and cake.”
“My word!” gasped Aunt Nettie.
“Music always adds so much e'clat to an affair,” pursued Tess, unruffled.
“The band practicing 'll add a-clatter, all right,” commented Aunt Nettie, adding a syllable to Tess's triumphant word.
Missy, visioning the seductive scene of Tess's description, did not notice her aunt's sarcasm.