"Then let's go back and get Hal, Betty, Shorty, Ned and the Baxter girls," suggested Sandow.
Readily the others agreed, deputizing Buttons and the leader of the Firsts to invite the others, promising to wait for them at the entrance to the grounds.
The unpleasant incident having cast a damper upon the celebrators, the other young people were only too glad to accept the invitation. But it was with trepidation that Buttons approached Mrs. Baxter.
"Surely my girls may go—provided you ask Mr. and Mrs. Vining and myself," she smiled. And, quickly gathering their wraps, they left the hall.
Asking Fred to walk with her, Mrs. Baxter adroitly questioned him about his father's affairs, smiling at the diplomatic manner in which he parried any leading questions.
"Do you suppose we could persuade your mother to come to the supper?" she suddenly asked.
"Perhaps you could," replied Fred. "It would do her no end of good. She doesn't go anywhere, you know; she's so sensitive."
This reply raised the boy greatly in the estimation of the rich woman, and she made a mental note that she would learn from Mr. Vining the details of his circumstances which she had been unable to extract from him.
As the others reached Buttons' house, they waited for Mrs. Baxter and Fred.
"Don't pay any attention to us. We're going to take a little walk," exclaimed the matron gayly, as they joined the group.