“What is it?” Ruth wanted to know.
The two children looked self-conscious for a moment, and then Dot blurted out:
“Couldn’t we stay up for the party a little while to-night?”
“Why, yes, I intended you should—for a little while,” replied Ruth. “What made you think you couldn’t? Oh, I see! About Uncle Rufus! Oh, that’s all forgiven and forgotten.”
“And could Sammy be over?” Dot was quick to ask, taking advantage of the unexpected softness on Ruth’s part.
“Oh, Sammy! Well, I don’t know. I hadn’t intended to ask him.”
“He’s got a new suit of clothes!” burst out Dot, as if that clinched matters. And in the laugh that followed, Ruth said:
“All right. Have him over for a little while. But mind! He must go home early!”
Tess and Dot would have rushed away before the pudding was served, so anxious were they to convey the welcome news to their prankish partner, but Ruth insisted on the forms of politeness being observed, at any rate, and not until she had given the signal for all to leave were Tess and Dot allowed to depart on their joyous errand.
The young men all came, Luke getting back to Milton just in time to attend. Cecile, too, motored over from Grantham and arrived with her intended, Gene Barrows. So that soon the Corner House was echoing to the merry laughter of happy hearts.