“I shall go of course, if you and Mary do,” said Roberta, calmly. “My father always says ‘yes’ to me. Sometimes I wish he’d say ‘no’ to something, so I could be sure he was really listening.”
“Don’t try the experiment this time,” said Mary. “How about a chaperon, Betty?”
“Oh, we can find somebody, I guess,” said Betty, joyously. Then she looked at Madeline. “I know the very person,” she cried. “Ethel Hale! Let’s go this minute and ask her.”
“All of us? In these things?” asked Roberta, who was afraid of all the faculty, on general principles.
“Of course,” said Madeline. “Betty can be show man and stage manager, since she’s torn her flippers and lost one ear.”
So it happened that Miss Hale, who was again in her sitting-room reading a wise German book about the Thirty Years’ War, heard a confused rustling in the hall and opened her door upon a troop of the strangest creatures she had seen since the Hallowe’en party of her senior year.
Besides the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts and Alice, there was the Cheshire cat, personated by Mary, wearing her “beamish” smile, the mad Hatter,—Helen, lost in an antiquated beaver that was one of Madeline’s most valued stage properties,—and the King of Hearts and four suit cards wearing placards like sandwich men, to show their identity.
After Betty had introduced all the Wonderland people and Miss Hale had admired their impromptu costumes, Betty explained why they had come.
To the joy of “The Merry Hearts,” Miss Hale consented at once. “I should like nothing better,” she said, heartily. “I’m tired of snow and cold and hard work, and the sea voyage and a week on that dear little green island is just what I need.”
“We’ll try not to be the least trouble,” said Babbie, sweetly.