“So do I. What can be the matter? It can’t be the party!”
“A party we haven’t been to can’t make us sick. No; I’m afraid we’re going to have the lumbago in our throats, and I think that’s something dreadful.”
“Lumbago? It sounds dreadful. Why, I never heard of it. What is it?”
“Oh, I’ve heard of it. I heard papa telling mamma that May Chester’s grandmother had it, and you know how sick she’s been this fall.”
“This lump in my throat is bad enough for anything,” sighed Eunice, putting her hand to it. “But let’s stand it till the party is over, Cricket.”
“I’ll stick it out,” said Cricket, with grim determination.
Mamma came in just here and put the finishing touches to the dainty dresses, and then they went down to the back parlour to exhibit themselves in all their bravery to papa and Marjorie.
Donald sauntered in as they were being duly admired.
“Hollo, kids! What giddy-looking girls! I am proud of you. Be sure and be good girls. Don’t forget to ‘open your eyes and look very wise, although you feel very silly.’”
“But we don’t feel very silly,” returned Eunice with dignity. “We’re not Freshmen in college.”