“I don’t feel as if the self-denying part of me could do that again. It’s most worn out,” said Cricket, mournfully, as they went up-stairs. “Think! the skating will surely be gone to-morrow! It never lasts but two or three days.”
As they finally shut the front door behind them and went down the steps, Mrs. Drayton’s carriage drew up before the house, and Emily’s eager head popped itself forward.
“Girls! girls! where are you going? I’m so glad I’m in time to catch you. I want you to go for a drive.”
“Oh, Emily!” cried Eunice, despairingly. “Don’t say one word about anything. I’m just about crazy! Everything nice is happening this afternoon, when we’ve just got to go to rehearsal.”
“Must you go?” said Emily, disappointedly. “I’d made up my mind to have a nice, long drive. I’ve had such a cold that I have not been out for a week, but to-day is so clear and bright that mamma said I might come out and get you both, and I want you so much!”
“I’m just as much disappointed as you, Emily,” sighed Eunice. “I’m tired to death of rehearsals, but we must go, because we promised mamma we wouldn’t shirk.”
“You can get some one else to go with you, Emily,” said Cricket, who had waited, younger-sister fashion, for Eunice to decide the matter.
“Of course I can get plenty of people,” said Emily, petulantly; “but I want you. Oh, do come! We’ll stop at the school and say I wouldn’t let you get out.”
Emily was very used to having her own way. Eunice opened her eyes wide.
“Oh, we couldn’t tell Miss Raymond that!” she exclaimed, in great surprise. “Please don’t coax, Emily. It makes it so hard.”