Constance left the room, to return in two minutes with consternation written upon her face.
“Where is she and what—?” asked Mrs. Carruth, resignation to any possibility descending upon her.
“She has just come in, mother, and—and—” the words ended in a laugh as Constance collapsed upon a chair.
“What is it, Connie?” demanded Eleanor. “What has Jean done now?”
“Where’s my little sister?” asked Hadyn. “You can’t make me believe she has broken all the laws of the Medes and Persians.”
“No, not those old fogies, but, oh, dear, what do you suppose she has done?—invited, sans ceremony, Victoria Regina, Mary Stuart, and Adelaide Elizabeth Hodgeson to dine with her!”
“Constance! Never!” cried Mrs. Carruth.
“She has. They are up in her room this very minute putting the finishing touches to their very unique toilets.”
“Go get ’em. Fetch ’em on. We’ll entertain ’em right royally! I know that National bird is a bouncer, and big enough to feed a dozen Hodgesons as well as all present,” was Hadyn’s laughing command.
“Oh, Hadyn, we can’t,” protested Eleanor, whose dignity and sense of propriety were continually receiving slight jars from this friend of the household.