“Lucile,” cried Dorothy. “You just ask her what she intends to do this summer. All our plans are tame beside hers.”
The girls had completely forgotten the wonderful topic that had seemed all absorbing before this guardian’s arrival, 49 but now it took on an added importance, and the girls waited eagerly for Lucile’s disclosure.
“What great plans have you been making now, Lucile?” said Mrs. Wescott, with that ever-ready interest that had won the girls completely. “I can see there is something great in the wind. Tell me about it.”
“I’d never have thought of it if Dorothy hadn’t reminded me,” said Lucile, amazed that it should have slipped her mind for two minutes, let alone two hours. “Why, it’s only that Mother and Dad are going to Europe this summer and they have decided to take Phil and me along with them; and then Dad said I might ask Jessie and Evelyn to go with us if they’d like to, and so they are coming—to make trouble,” she added, slyly.
“Oh, no doubt of that last,” said Mrs. Wescott, laughing, and then added, with enthusiasm, “It certainly is splendid for you to have the chance. I know your pet hobby has always been to visit Switzerland, Lucy, and now you will, provided you get that far. Do you suppose you will?”
“I really don’t know,” said Lucile. “I’ve been too stunned by the mere fact of going to Europe to think of asking for details. If I have anything to say about it, we’ll go to Switzerland, if we don’t go anywhere else.”
“Just hear her talk of Switzerland, as if it were just around the corner,” marveled Ruth. “It has always seemed to me like some myth or fable.”
“And you feel as it you ought to speak of it in whispers,” agreed Marjorie. “That’s the way I feel about it.”
“Oh, I almost forgot about tea,” Lucile interrupted, springing to her feet and making a dash for the door. “It’s getting late, and everybody must be starved. Come on, Jessie, and help me, for goodness’ sake!”
“Coming,” said Jessie, stopping at the door to make a low bow and declaim, “Ladies and gentlemen, we crave your indulgence——”