Going out with Ted was a great event, for Mrs. Lee said that she might, “though this is not to be taken as a regular break in our ideas,” Betty’s mother was careful to add.
“I don’t care, Mother,” said Betty, “only I wish I didn’t have to say that my mother doesn’t like to have me do it.”
“You can make your own excuses, Betty.”
“Of course. But if the boys think you don’t want to go with them it makes them mad and you won’t get asked again.”
“And that would be terrible,” laughed her mother, who had little fear but that Betty would have enough “dates” to keep her happy.
“Yes, it would,” Betty answered, but a little smile crept about her lips.
“How would it do just to say that you are allowed very few engagements, especially at night?”
“I might work out something else. You should have seen—or heard—how dumb it sounded, what I said to Ted!”
“There he is, my daughter,” said Mrs. Lee as the bell rang. Betty looked in the glass, patted a refractory lock, and walked sedately through the hall and into the front room, where Ted, all correct, in a new top-coat, and carrying hat and gloves, waited, having been admitted by Dick.
Ted rose and shook hands, as Betty entered, but said that he was late and that if she would put on her wraps he “thought they’d better start.” Mrs. Lee came in then and Betty ran back for her wraps, thankful that they were new, this year, and that her gloves were everything that could be desired. She had worn her prettiest dress and hoped that Ted, who was accustomed to taking out girls, would find nothing lacking in her ensemble.