[Illustration: "Yes, and have refreshments for just you two?">[
"That is my intention most certainly. The twins and Connie will not put in appearance at all. Prue will serve the refreshments, and will eat with us. Babbie and I shall spend the evening in the front room."
"The front room?" echoed Prudence. "This room is much cheerier, and more homelike."
"Well, Babbie isn't a member of the family, you know," said Fairy.
"You are doing your best," sniffed Carol.
"Now, you girls must understand right off, that things are different here from what they were at Exminster. When boys came to the house there they came to have a good time with the whole family. But here it is very different. I've been looking around, and I've got on to the system. The proper thing is to receive callers privately, without the family en masse sitting by and superintending. That's etiquette, you know. And one must always serve refreshments. More etiquette. Men are such greedy animals, they do not care to go places where the eats aren't forthcoming."
"Men! Are you referring to this Babbling creature now?" interposed Carol.
"Ouch!" said Lark.
"But won't it be rather—poky—just sitting in the front room by yourselves all evening?" asked Prudence doubtfully, ignoring the offended twins.
"Oh, I dare say it will. But it's the proper thing to do," said Fairy complacently.