“No, it’s near Cuba,” asserted Roberta. “My father went there once long ago. He brought me the loveliest shells. You go out in a boat, you know, and whatever you see that you want a man dives down——”
She was interrupted by an ecstatic shriek from Betty. “Girls, what do you think? Father says it’s perfectly lovely there, wherever it is, and it doesn’t take long from New York, and he wants me to make up a party of girls and come down for Easter. Did you ever hear anything so perfectly, perfectly grand?”
“Never,” said Mary, “only please read us all about it.”
“Yes,” assented Betty, dancing off the rest of the mock turtle’s costume, “I will. He says that it’s lovely at Nassau, B. I., and that the weather is just right—it was too hot at Barbadoes, whatever that is—and that while it’s not so tropical as the more southerly West Indies——”
“What did I tell you?” interrupted Roberta triumphantly. “You see it is near Cuba.”
“It’s very beautiful just the same,” continued Betty. “And there’s splendid sailing and fishing and bathing. But he says that he and mother are tired of being alone and want me to join them for their last two weeks, only of course I can’t come down alone, so he suggests—let me see. Here it is. ‘When Nan was in college I remember that she was invited to join a party of college girls who went to the Bahamas for their Easter vacation. One of the faculty who wanted to take the trip acted as chaperon, and I think made the business arrangements; but I enclose a list of steamer sailings and an estimate of expenses, and will engage hotel accommodations as soon as I hear from you. So your chaperon’s duties will be merely nominal. I am sure six or eight of you would enjoy the four days’ sea voyage and a week or two here immensely, and both your mother and I hope you can arrange to bring down a congenial party.’ Oh, girls, can’t you all come?”
“I think I can,” said Mary. “I’ll tell father to give me the trip as a commencement present.”
“I’m sure I can,” declared Madeline. “Father and mother are in Italy, so I may as well do one thing as another at Easter. They gave me a check for Christmas, and if that isn’t enough, I’ll take the rest of my allowance money and trust to providence for the future.”
“We can go,” announced Babbie, speaking as usual for all the B’s. “That is—if our fond parents are willing. We’ll go and write them this minute.”
“Send it special delivery,” advised Mary. “How about you, K.?”