“Thank you,” said Linda, closing her fist over it and holding it up for inspection. “I’ll see that it doesn’t escape. And this minute I thank you for the candy, which I know is delicious, and for my very first sheaf of roses from any man. See what I have done with one of them?”
She turned fully around that he might catch the effect of the rose, and in getting that he also got the full effect of the costume, and the possibilities of the girl before him. And then she gave him a shock.
“Isn’t it a lovely frock?” she said. “Another birthday gift from the Strong rock of ages. I have been making a collection of rocks for my fern bed, and I have got another collection that is not visible to anyone save myself. Katy’s a rock, and you’re a rock, and Donald is a rock, and Marian’s a rock, and I am resting securely on all of you. I wish my father knew that in addition to Marian and Katy I have found two more such wonderful friends.”
“And what about Henry Anderson?” inquired Peter. “Aren’t you going to include him?”
Linda walked over to the chair in which she intended to seat herself.
“Peter,” she said, “I wish you hadn’t asked me that.”
Peter’s figure tensed suddenly.
“Look here, Linda,” he said sternly, “has that rather bold youngster made himself in any way offensive to you?”
“Not in any way that I am not perfectly capable of handling myself,” said Linda. She looked at Peter confidently.
“Do you suppose,” she said, “that I can sit down in this thing without ruining it? Shouldn’t I really stand up while I am wearing it?”