When it was over, everybody went indoors and had all sorts of cooling things to eat and drink. Meanwhile the bridesmaids, and “near-brides” had slipped away to put on some Roumanian peasant costumes, and “the next number on the program”—according to Katherine—was some curious wedding dances that Roberta had learned and taught to the others. Some were graceful and some were amusing, and the music was so gay that it made everybody feel like dancing too. And that was what they did, by the soft light of Japanese lanterns, until it was time to fill one’s hands with confetti and old slippers and speed the wedding-pair on their way to the desert island that would not be deserted any more that summer.
As the girls sat on the piazza talking it all over with Mrs. Brooks, who declared she simply couldn’t realize that “little Mary” was old enough to be getting married, Dr. Brooks came out, bringing a letter for Betty.
“Don’t ask me how long I’ve had it in my pocket, Miss Betty,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes. “It beats everything how a wedding does upset me.”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter,” laughed Betty, “as long as you’ve remembered it in time for me to know where I’m going to-morrow. It’s from father, telling me which cottage they’ve taken. Will you excuse me if I read it right now, Mrs. Brooks?”
The next minute Betty gave a little shriek of delight, dropped her letter, and seizing Babbie’s hands whirled her madly down the length of the piazza. Finally she dropped breathlessly down on the broad railing, pulling Babbie to a seat beside her.
“Isn’t it just too elegant for anything!” she sighed. “And to think how near Babe came to telling, and I never guessed a thing.”
CHAPTER II
A GOING-AWAY PARTY—HARDING STYLE
For a while everybody who didn’t know what the excitement was about asked questions at once, and everybody who did, which meant the B’s and Madeline, answered at once,—a process resulting in that delightful confusion that is the very nicest part about telling a secret. Finally things quieted down a little, and Babbie was called upon to “tell us all about it.”
“Why, it’s just this way,” she explained. “Mother’s doctor ordered her to Europe. She isn’t strong, you know, and the change is good for her. But he said she mustn’t motor this time because it’s too wearing; but must travel quietly, and rest a lot, and so on. Well, mother isn’t much for quiet herself, so she was afraid I might be bored, just with her and Marie, and no car to run while she takes naps. So she told me to ask Bob and Babe to join us—this all came up after commencement, you understand. And Babe would, but Bob wouldn’t, because of her fresh-air kids; so then I asked Betty. Not that she’s second choice one bit,” added Babbie hastily, “only of course the B’s——”
“You needn’t apologize,” Betty interrupted her. “Of course the B’s ask each other first! As for me, I’m too overjoyed to be going to think of anything else.”