But, when she had opened it, she saw, instead of Quis, a vision in a long, pale blue party cloak, and, after one astonished look at its laughing eyes and rosy red cheeks, she opened both arms with a cry of delight.
“Louise Markham! Oh, joy! Uncle Mac said your train was ice-bound, and you might not get in before morning.”
“So it was, but we made up time, and wired again later,” Louise explained merrily, as she emerged from Jacquette’s embrace. “Your uncle was bound to make a Christmas surprise of us, that’s all!”
“Us? We? Of course! Quis was on the same train with you. Where’s he?”
“Freezing in a dark corner until you remember to ask for me,” was the prompt response, and a tall figure stepped into the light of the doorway.
“Oh, Quis—Quis! Goody! Ask for you! Didn’t I fly to the door because I knew your ring? Never mind that snow on your feet. Come in!” she cried, drawing them both into the bright warm house. “Uncle Mac, you sinner!” she added in the next breath, as he came out into the hall, his big face beaming. “You made me think they couldn’t get here, but I’ll forgive you, now! Tia, here’s this darling Louise, after all, and only look at our splendid Quis! You never can reach up to kiss him! Come Louise—a lot of the girls are upstairs!”
The white dress and blue cloak disappeared up the stairway together, and the lively sounds that floated down a minute later faintly suggested the reception that was going on above. Blanche and Etta and Mamie and Flo had all rushed at Louise together, while Jacquette hovered round the edges, too happy for words.
While the exclaiming and the hugging were still at their height, something called her away, and a little later, she appeared on the threshold of the room just long enough to say, “I’ll have to go down, girls. Come whenever you’re ready, please.”
“Sh!” Blanche Gross was whispering to Louise, as Jacquette turned away. “She’s so excited, she hasn’t noticed, yet. Don’t say a word until she does. We planned it for a Christmas surprise.”
