“You poor infant!” said Lucile. “Come here and let me fix you.” 55
Then some strange girls came in and, after a few admonitory pats of stubborn bows and ruffles, the girls started downstairs. They made a pretty picture as they descended the wide staircase together, and as they reached the last step their guardian disengaged herself from a laughing group of young folks and came forward to meet them with an approving smile.
“You didn’t stay up there as long as I expected,” she laughed. “Now come in and meet everybody.”
The introductions were soon over, much to everybody’s relief, and the girls were surprised to find how many of the boys and girls they knew.
“Why, I know most all of them,” Lucile confided to Jack in a lull. “Those I don’t know to speak to, I’ve seen over and over again on the street.”
“That’s not strange,” said Jack. “There’s a great big crowd and it’s growing every minute. Here are some new arrivals!”
“Oh, it’s Marjorie and Dot, with the boys,” she cried, jumping up. “Will you excuse me a minute? I’ll be right back,” and she threw him a glance so full of sparkling mischief that his heart leaped suddenly and unaccountably, and Phil had to speak to him twice before he could make himself heard.
In half an hour the dancing began. The floor of the two great rooms that had been thrown open for the use of the guests had been polished till they shone, and at the far end of the room a platform had been erected, upon which sat the musicians, partly screened by magnificent palms. The rooms were decorated from end to end with flowers and the air was heavy with their perfume.
At an appointed signal the orchestra struck up a one-step and at that irresistible summons the boys began a mad rush to secure partners.
“Oh, I didn’t know it would be like this,” murmured Jessie. 56