"Ain't she swell?" enthused Andy. "Orn, have ye looked 'er over?"
"Sure," mumbled the Squatter, "an' she air finer'n silk."
Tessibel hugged her father again, fluttered a kiss from the tips of her fingers to the little man above, and repeating her usual admonition to them, not to talk aloud, she started for Young's with palpitating heart. Deforrest met her as she ascended the front porch. Smiling he took her hand. His eyes expressed his approval of the winsome face and the trim figure in the new dress.
"Prompt as usual," he greeted. "How beautiful you are tonight, my dear!"
The color swept to Tessibel's face in great waves. She loved everything beautiful, the roses, the violets, the blue of the sky! Even the night things were beautiful, too. Did Professor Young think her beautiful like all these wonders? She smiled, her face shining in its mantling crimson. Deforrest took her arm, leading her into the living room, where Helen stood at the table, drawing on a long white glove.
"Gaze upon your handiwork," laughed her brother. "Quite a surprise for Ebenezer and his friends, eh?"
Helen examined Tessibel from the top of her head to the tip of her pretty boots with critical, gratified eyes.
"Yes," she decided, "you're all very satisfactory, Tess." Then to her brother, "Now, let's go, dear."
When Deforrest drove his horses up the long roadway leading to the Waldstricker mansion, Tessibel noticed the house was lighted from cellar to garret, that a long line of vehicles was making its slow way to the porch. Her heart fluttered with embarrassment. As they drew up to the stone veranda, Tess reached spontaneously for Helen Young's hand.
"It seem's if I jest couldn't sing afore such a awful lot of folks," she murmured helplessly.