And Timothy had been invited. His was the very first invitation sent.
CHAPTER XXI
But Timothy wrote that he was sorry, but he could not come.
He thought that Arethusa's letters home had lately been almost too full of a person by the name of Bennet, and torn between a curiosity to observe this person for himself in the flesh, and a disinclination to place himself in a position that should give her the opportunity to express her preference in public, the latter won.
Arethusa stormed and raged, as was quite to be expected.
It was so stupid of him to refuse! He would spoil the whole Party if he did not come! She almost cried with vexation as she read his letter at the breakfast-table.
"He's just got to come, that's all! Nasty thing! And I'll just bet he waited till right now to write so it would be too late for me to write to him again! That would be just like him! He's had that invitation two whole weeks! Oh, I just hate him for acting this way!"
"I shouldn't think you would be so anxious to have a person you hated at your Party," remarked Ross.
"Of course I want Timothy to come," replied Arethusa, with decision. "More than anyone else except you and Mother."