“Then there wasn’t any dinner-party to-night?” faltered Cricket.
“I’ll tell you what your forgetfulness has done, my dear,” answered mamma. “Mrs. Lynn was at Mrs. Drayton’s for that night only. We were anxious to meet each other, for I know her sister very well. She came very unexpectedly, and Mrs. Drayton sent the note in to you, since your school is so near her, as the quickest way of its reaching me.
“To-night, as papa and I arrived, we saw the Draytons’ carriage standing in front of their door, and of course wondered at that. As we rang the bell, the door opened, and the Draytons themselves came out, to our great amazement. They exclaimed at seeing us, and we immediately found they were invited out to dinner themselves to-night. Of course we explained, and so did they, though, as they were already late, they could only stop a few moments.
“Mrs. Drayton was greatly surprised last week, when we neither arrived nor sent any word, but supposed it was one of my sudden illnesses. Think how rude you made us appear, Cricket.”
“And then, how ridiculous you made us seem to-night,” added papa, “in going to dine, when there wasn’t any dinner-party.”
Cricket was much too wretched to speak. She was curled up in a corner of the couch, with her head buried in the cushions.
“But that is not all,” went on papa.
Cricket raised a tear-stained face, in added dismay. What more could there be?
“And I am not altogether sorry, my dear, that it will be a great disappointment to yourself.”
“Oh, ho!” said Donald, quickly. “Boomerang business, I see.”