"I'd be delighted. At least, if you'd rather go there than to the New Year's Eve dance at the Country Club."
"I'd rather go to both," announced Linda, gayly. "Lou and Ted expect to take that in too, for I heard her saying she'd dig out a costume for him. Could you find something for me, Auntie?"
"Of course I could," replied the older woman, smiling happily. It was just like old times again, she thought—with dinner parties and costume dances to take one's attention.
"I'll go up in the attic right away," she decided. "What sort of thing would you prefer?"
"Anything different from this dirty old flyer's suit. I hate the sight of it, after living in it at that miserable cabin. Why, I haven't had anything else since we left Plattsburg! I'm going to burn it tonight!"
Again Miss Carlton smiled; this was the Linda she liked best, the dainty girl who looked charming in fluffy, feminine gowns.
"I'm going to hurry and get my bath before anybody comes," added the girl. "And get into a dinner dress."
She left just in time, for no sooner had she reached the top of the stairs than she heard Ralph Clavering's voice in the hall.
"Linda! Linda!" he shouted, for her father had told him that she had just gone upstairs to dress.
"Hello, Ralph!" she called back. "I'm dying to see you, but I'm not presentable. Can you wait about twenty minutes?"