Erminie did not go out again to the hospitals that afternoon.
She was expecting a small party of friends to take tea and spend the evening, and it was necessary to make some preparations for them.
So after an early luncheon Erminie and Elfie began to gather flowers to decorate the drawing-room, and the dining-room and library.
“My pap is very fond of company. I hope he will arrive this evening. It would be such a pleasant surprise for him to meet a party of his friends here,” said Elfie, as she arranged a large bush of odorous magnolia-grandiflora to sit on the drawing-room hearth.
“I think it quite likely that your hopes will be realized, Elfie,” answered Erminie, who was delicately placing a bouquet of lilies and roses in a vase for the centre table.
When their preparations were completed, Elfie sauntered up to her room to lie down and indulge in her usual afternoon nap.
But Erminie went to inspect the condition of her pastry, and to order certain fresh delicacies prepared for the evening feast. And then she called her housemaid, and went up stairs, and had the rooms she intended to assign to Major Fielding and Captain Ethel arranged under her own eyes for the reception of their inmates.
When Elfie awoke from her sleep she found Erminie still actively engaged.
“‘My heyes!’ as the cockneys say, what has come to you, Erminie? You have been on your feet the whole day. You have walked twenty miles at least, if the ground you’ve gone over was all stretched out in a line; and you have been hard at work ever since you got home, and you look as fresh and brilliant as a blush rose with the morning dew upon it. Really, now, aint you tired?” inquired Elfie, as she entered the dining-room where Erminie was decorating the tea-table.
“Not in the least,” said Miss Rosenthal, smiling brightly. “But now, my dear Elfie, it is time for us to dress ourselves. Our friends will come early because the summer evenings are so short.”