“The shower at last!”
Doris burst into happy laughter, and the other girls crowded about her as Lily gradually let down the parcels from the ceiling.
“Girls, it’s just too wonderful!” she exclaimed, as she examined one gift after another, her face radiant with joy. Marjorie watched her admiringly, wondering whether her own future held any such thrilling experience for her.
“But there are lots more than eight gifts here!” remarked Doris, overpowered by their lavishness.
“Yes, lots of the girls’ mothers sent them, and even some of the boys,” explained Lily. “And—the biggest surprise of all was Mrs. Hadley’s, wasn’t it?”
“It certainly was!” agreed Doris, turning the pages of an attractive little book about the Wissahickon, illustrated by some charming sketches. “She must have known we expect to live in Philadelphia.”
“Yes, I told her,” replied Lily, “and she asked whether I thought you would like it. I assured her you would.”
“I do—I love it,” said the other.
The maids began to serve the luncheon, and the menu, which was as daintily and as carefully planned as the decorations, did not fail to make its appeal to the guests. Doris alone was too much excited to eat.
“But I don’t see how you ever guessed it,” she said to Lily, as she nibbled at her roll. “It was a secret.”