“Oh,” she exclaimed cheerily, “is it all settled? Have you made all the arrangements, Cousin Julia?”
“Well, I declare! I'd forgotten all about telling him,” cried Mrs. Bowser in her shrillest tone. “I'd just taken it for a fact that he'd know when to come.”
“That's a little too much to expect, I'm afraid,” said Mrs. Knapp, smiling gaily at Mrs. Bowser's management. “I see that I shall have to arrange this thing myself. Will Monday night suit you, Henry?”
“As well as another,” said I politely, concealing my feelings as a victim of feminine diplomacy.
“You have told him who are going, haven't you?” said Mrs. Knapp to Mrs. Bowser.
“Laws, no! I never thought but what he knew.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Mrs. Knapp. “What a gift as a mind-reader Mr. Wilton ought to have! Well, I suppose I'd better not trust to that, Henry. There's to be Mrs. Bowser, of course, and Mr. and Mrs. Carter, and Mr. Horton, and—oh, yes—Luella.”
My heart gave a jump, and the trip to Chinatown suddenly became an object of interest.
“I, mama?” said an inquiring voice, and Luella herself stood by her mother.
“Yes,” said Mrs. Knapp. “It's the Chinatown expedition for Monday night.”