“Do you not want to be with us, Ann?” asked Grandmother in surprise.
“Oh, yes, if we can do anything to help entertain.”
“You can. I want a pretty group of girls to serve the guests. Wear your prettiest frock and do your mother honor.”
“I’ll do my best, Grandmother.”
Ann was being constantly surprised at her grandmother’s energy, not knowing that it had been her natural way before the illness which had made her withdraw for some time, both because of her own weakness at first, and later because of her daughter’s insistence. It was so much easier to yield to Sue than to oppose her. Sue always had insisted on her own way, but it had never taken the form of interfering so much with her mother’s plans and life, she thought; at least she had thought so until the revelation came of her engineering the misunderstanding between Elizabeth and herself. Well, well,—that was past.
The second week of Ann’s stay with her mother was closing when this reception took place. Ann and Suzanne were full of their plans for returning to school and the group of girls, including Madeline, had much to discuss. The rooms were prettily decorated with flowers. Ann’s mother looked distinguished in a filmy summer gown and shared the entertaining with her mother and sister. A host of handsomely gowned ladies came in shining limousines with attentive chauffeurs. There was the usual buzz of conversation.
The girls did not make their appearance until time to serve, in the beautiful room devoted to that purpose. There the table was a shining center of costly linen, bright silver and cut glass, which glittered under the artificial lights. A mass of crimson roses gave fragrance.
“Is this Madam LeRoy’s grand-daughter from the West?” impressively inquired a large, rather strong-featured woman, expensively and expansively gowned, whose hands flashed with diamonds, as she accepted the plate of ice-cream which Ann offered. “No; no coffee, thank you. Unfortunately, it keeps me awake, no matter when I drink it. Sit down, won’t you, a minute, to get acquainted?”
There was no one on either side of this guest, for it was now late in the afternoon and most of the guests had been served. A few ladies, in twos and threes were scattered about the room. Mrs. Bentley, who was pouring coffee, had little to do and was chatting with one of the guests, who stood by the table to talk to her.