“That must be he now!” cried Marjorie, jumping up. “I hear voices and steps on the porch.”
Ethel and Marie Louise stood in full sight of the door, and enjoyed Marjorie’s consternation as she rushed forward only to be greeted by two strange young men.
“Is Miss Endicott in?” asked the taller, older one of the two.
“Yes, indeed!” replied Marjorie, taking the card which was extended towards her. “Won’t you come in and sit down?”
“And Miss Evans?” asked the other, also producing a card.
Ethel and Marie Louise had managed to remain concealed in the sitting—room while they were witnessing the situation, and only with a supreme effort stifled the giggles which Marjorie’s perplexity aroused. By the time Alice and Florence had appeared to greet the young men, the other three girls had vanished into the dining-room.
“So this is your surprise!” remarked Marjorie. “Well, it’s very nice—for them. I suppose Mrs. Hadley and I will have to have our conference in the dining-room.”
“Oh, your conference can wait!” replied Ethel, unconcernedly.
“There they are now!” interrupted Marjorie, at the sound of the door-bell. “I’ll go let them in.”
But Marjorie was to receive one more surprise before the Hadleys arrived. The person whom she least expected to see stood before her: her own Brother Jack! Another young man, whom she immediately recognized as William Warner of the wedding party, was with him.