They began to use the dining-room for meals after Uncle Rufus came. The old man gently insisted upon it.
“Sho’ly, Missie, you wants ter lib up ter de customs ob de ol’ Co’ner House. Mars’ Peter drapped ’em all off latterly; but de time was w’en dis was de center ob sassiety in Milton—ya-as’m!”
“But goodness!” ejaculated Ruth, in some timidity, “we do not expect to be in society now. We don’t know many people yet. And not a soul has been inside the door to call upon us since we arrived.”
However, their circle of acquaintance was steadily widening.
[CHAPTER VIII—THE CAT THAT WENT BACK]
Agnes put her hand upon it in the pantry and dropped a glass dish ker-smash! She screamed so, that Ruth came running, opened the door, and, as it scurried to escape into the dining-room, the oldest Kenway girl dodged and struck her head with almost stunning force against the doorframe. She “saw stars” for a few moments.
“Oh! oh!” screamed Agnes.
“Ow! ow!” cried Ruth.
“Whatever is the matter with you girls?” demanded Mrs. McCall, hurrying in from the front hall.
She suddenly saw it, following the baseboard around the room in a panic of fear, and Mrs. McCall gathered her skirts close about her ankles and called Uncle Rufus.