“It was bad of me, and I’ll take you back,” offered Cathalina.
“I left Mother on the porch,” said Betty, “and there was a taxi full of girls just coming around the drive.”
“All right, we’ll be there, and if we see a sweet lady that looks just like you, we’ll introduce ourselves,—shall we?”
“Nothing would please Mother better.”
Lilian and Hilary went on down the stairs and out upon the broad porch with its columns, flowers, and vines. Stopping several times to greet acquaintances, they made their way as soon as possible to a stone bench at one end where they seemed to recognize a familiar figure.
“That is Eloise Winthrop!” exclaimed Hilary.
“And wouldn’t you take her for Betty?” Lilian was looking at Betty’s mother, to whom Eloise was talking.
“Yes, or her twin sister.”
As the girls reached the little group at the end of the porch, Eloise turned and prettily introduced them to Betty’s mother. “I am just apologizing,” continued Eloise, “for I thought that she was Betty and rushed madly up and threw my arms around her. You can imagine how I felt and how surprised the lady was!”
“I haven’t had so fine a compliment for years,” smiled Betty’s mother, slipping an arm around Eloise, “and one whose sincerity I can not doubt. But I don’t know what Betty will think.”