“And she is coming to see us,” Agnes told Ruth. “She has promised to come to Milton this spring. Just think! The old Corner House will have to put its best foot forward to entertain the Nalbro Hastings. I’m glad we’ve got a car. But don’t you think, Ruthie, we can afford a neat little maid with a cap and apron? Linda is so clumsy.”
“Neale would say you wanted to ‘put on dog,’” ventured Ruth, laughing.
“Now, dear! Consider! This girl is used to everything.”
“Then she must be used to flat-footed Finn servant girls,” declared Ruth gaily. “She must take us as we are.” And although she seconded her sister’s invitation very warmly to the Back Bay girl, Ruth made up her mind that she should not be foolishly catered to.
People came to the St. Sergius Arms to rest; but the Kenway party seemed to find little time for that. For the younger set there was something gay doing almost every day and evening. And when it came time for Mr. Howbridge to take his flock back to the north there was a gay masquerade dance engineered in honor particularly of Ruth and Agnes.
It was a very gay occasion, quite the gayest indeed that the sisters had ever entered into. Even the Poole dance early in the winter, where they had so unfortunately caught cold, had not delighted Agnes so much. And Ruth could not fail to be charmed, everything about the masquerade ball was so well done.
Luke would remain some weeks longer with Professor Keeps. But he was on hand for the ball.
Were Tess and Dot forgotten? They most certainly were not! Dot went as a fairy, gauzy wings and all, while Tess was Little Bo-Peep and carried a crook.
“Though you haven’t got any sheep, Tess,” observed Dot critically. “You haven’t even got one of those big turtles to drive! So I don’t see what good that big cane does you.”
“I’d look nice trying to drive Mr. Methuselah, wouldn’t I?” said her sister scornfully.