Louise thought a moment, then she clutched her sister’s hand eagerly.
“Nellie! The very thing! Invite Grace Kendall! She would make them all fit in beautifully. I’d hate awfully to have her know our Carey went with that Clytie thing; but I guess there isn’t any other way, and somehow I think a minister’s daughter ought to understand, don’t you? And help?”
Cornelia was still struggling with her pride.
“Yes,” she said thoughtfully. “I guess you’re right, little sister. Grace Kendall would understand—and help. I think God must have given you that idea. We’ll invite Clytie and Brand and Grace Kendall, and then trust God to show us how to make them all have a good time without suspecting what it’s all about. We’ll just tell Carey that he must come home early because we have a birthday cake and a surprise for him—make him promise to be there, you know; and then we’ll take him into the living room, and they’ll be there waiting. If he thinks it strange and says anything about it afterwards, we’ll tell him we invited all the people we knew were his friends, and we couldn’t ask him about it beforehand because it had to be a surprise party. Now, little sister, I think you’ve solved the problem with your bright idea; and we can decide on that.”
CHAPTER XIV
They had the hardest time with Harry when they confided to him their plans and asked for his assistance. It took a great deal of argument and much tact to make him believe that anything good might come out of inviting “that chicken,” as he persisted in calling Carey’s latest admiration. He had little less scorn for Brand Barlock; but, when he heard that Grace Kendall was to be included in the list of guests, he succumbed.
“Aw, gee! It’s a rotten shame to mix her up with that gang, but if she’ll come, it’ll be some party. Gee! Yes, I’ll take your invites round, but you better find out if the minister’s girl will come before you get any of the others.”
The sisters decided that Harry’s advice was wise, and after the children had gone to school and the morning work was done up Cornelia took her walk to market around by the way of the minister’s house and proffered her request.
“I’m not at all sure you’ll like the company,” she said with a deprecatory smile; “they are some young people Carey got to know last winter, and I want to get acquainted with them and see if they are the right kind. I thought maybe you’d be willing to help make it a success.”
That was all the explanation she gave; but the other girl’s face kindled sympathetically, and she seemed to understand everything.