Mrs. Dudley and Polly smiled appreciatively to each other.
“We reached the end of it,” Mrs. Jocelyn continued, “long before Leonora was through choosing, and she was distressed at thought of leaving out so many. It is all nonsense, this restricting the number of guests to the years; but if it must be so I think we had better combine. Then we can double the list, and nobody will have to be invited twice. Polly and Leonora ought to be satisfied with forty-four friends—no, forty-two besides themselves,” she amended, with a twinkle in her gray eyes.
The girls eagerly awaited Mrs. Dudley’s reply.
“That would be very pleasant,” she began; “but—”
“There isn’t a single but to it,” laughed the little lady comfortably. “We will have the party at my house, two parties in one, on the nineteenth.”
“Oh! that will be a between birthday party, won’t it?” piped Polly delightedly.
“We will call it just that,” agreed Mrs. Jocelyn.
Plans were making progress when the Doctor came in, and Polly watched his face anxiously as he listened. She knew the signs.
“I don’t quite like this arrangement,” he objected frankly. “We have intended to make Polly’s party a very simple little affair, without fuss or ceremony. You, of course, will wish things different.”
“Now, see here, Dr. Robert Dudley,” broke in Mrs. Jocelyn, laughingly, “I’m not going to allow any such insinuations. It shall be bread and butter and cookies for tea, if you wish; but you are not going to spoil our good time. Just look at those children! They are worrying their hearts out for fear you won’t let them play hostess together.”