"Little Miss Shirley confided it to me."
"Me, too!" cried Nancy, proudly. "But she did n't tell me her sister would ask you."
"Miss Olive probably didn't intend to," hazarded Peter, folding up his note and putting it carefully in his pocket, "until she came to call and saw our charms. She came--she saw--we conquered--eh, Janey?--with our sweet smiles and our stories. How about it, sister? Do we go?"
"If," began Jane slowly, the smile fading a little on her bright face, "if----"
"If we've anything to wear!" supplied Ross, and began to whistle gaily. "Oh, ye shall walk in silk attire," breaking off to glance at the clock and start hastily for the door, with Peter and Rufus after him. Jane turned to Mrs. Bell, who, sitting quietly in her place at the head of the table, was regarding her young daughter as if she understood all the doubts which had instantly risen in the girl's mind.
"I think we can manage it, dear," she said, "if the party dress does n't have to match the invitation."
Jane's face grew flushed again. "I can wear anything, mother, if I have some fresh ribbons. But Peter----"
"Yes--Peter--" agreed Mrs. Bell. She rose and came round to Jane. "Peter shall have a new cravat," said she, and smiled into Jane's eyes.
Jane smiled back. Each knew that the other was thinking of Peter's best black suit--in which he went to church on Sundays. Each knew that the Townsend sons would wear evening clothes.
"Yes, with a new cravat Petey will be all right," said Jane. "Dear boy, he was pleased, was n't he? And it is nice of her to ask us!"