She then tied on a large apron, rolled up her sleeves, washed her hands, and went into the kitchen to make cakes.
And all that day her two servants, Mocka and Gad, had a time of it!
Late in the evening Roland came back with a cargo of groceries, and the report that all the neighborhood had been invited to her party, and had accepted the invitation.
“And now, Aunt Sibby, it is getting awfully serious! If they all come—and they will all come—where are you going to put them? Here are only three rooms on this floor—the kitchen, the parlor and the parlor bedroom,” said Roland, in real concern.
“Le’s see,” mused the old lady, looking around. “‘Where there’s a will there’s a way,’ sez I! And, Lord knows, as I have got the will, I must find the way! The party is given to the young bride and groom, and for the sake of the dancers, and they must have the preference. Le’s see, now: The bed must be took out’n the parlor bedroom and put upstairs. The folks as don’t dance must sit in the parlor bedroom, with the door open, so as they may see the dancing and hear the music. Then the dancers must dance in this parlor, and the nigger fiddlers can play in the kitchen, with the door open, so the music can be heard all over the house. The two rooms upstairs can be used for the ladies’ and gentlemen’s dressing rooms. Oh, there’s ample space! ample! And we shall have a grand time, Roland!” said the old lady of sixty-one with the heart of sixteen.
And her words came true. Everything was propitious. To be sure, the moonlight was gone; but the sky was clear and cold, and the stars sparkling with the brilliancy that is only to be seen in just such winter weather, and the snow was deep and frozen hard, and the sleighing was “hevvingly,” as the lady from Wild Cats’ described it.
And when all the company were assembled in Miss Sibby’s little, hospitable house, and divided into rooms according to her plan, there was really no uncomfortable crowd at all.
Roland Bayard received all the guests at the door.
Gad showed the gentlemen upstairs into the little north bedroom, and Mocka conducted the ladies up into the little south bedroom.
Both these small attic chambers had been neatly prepared as dressing rooms.