Babe jumped up. “I want to see the view from the story below this, don’t you, John? The trees are cut away more down there.”
John murmured something about being rather tired of sitting still and followed her.
“Chaperon’s cue is to descend to lower story,” laughed Mr. Dwight; but Mrs. Hildreth decided that in this case the chaperon would better stay where she was.
The two were back in five minutes, enthusiastic over their view.
“I’m ready for my lemonade now,” announced Babe gaily.
“I’m going to have another glass, too,” added John. “You must all have another. Babe and I want you to drink a toast.”
Which is how Madeline’s going-away party was suddenly transformed into Babe’s announcement party—not one bit fair, Madeline said, but amusing enough to make up. Anyway Babe always declared that Madeline said what she did on purpose and that Betty coughed to attract her attention to it.
“And I knew I didn’t want to do without John all my life,” she said, “and making up your mind is such a bother that I wanted to have it all over with. Whenever I’m in doubt again I shall drink afternoon tea.”
CHAPTER XVII
TELLING THE MAGNATE
It wasn’t a real announcement party, Babe explained carefully.