"Count me out, for one," said Miss Sterling quickly.
"No, count her in!" ordered Polly.
Miss Crilly laughed. "Sure!" she agreed. "I'll find out who wants to go. You wait, Polly. 'T won't take long."
She was as quick as her promise, but her face was doleful.
"Every blessed one is crazy to go, except Mrs. Crump and Mrs. Post and Miss Leatherland. What can we do!"
Polly counted up. "That makes twelve of you, so Patricia and
Leonora can go. David and I will stay home."
"You'll do no such thing!" Miss Sterling's tone was firm. "I'll send Polly in my stead."
"Polly won't go!" she laughed. "You're the one that received the invitation, and the idea of your staying behind! David is coming up, anyway, and we're to play duets if we can't go; so we'll be all right."
Miss Sterling gave Polly a quick glance of surprise, and Polly threw back a smile, just as Mrs. Albright appeared.
"What time are we going?" she asked. "I have my dress to mend."