“I’d like to see you git Dad out to a dance,” remarked Marty. “That would foretell the Crack o’ Doom!”
“Don’t you keer,” said his mother cheerfully. “Ye’ll likely see a hull lot o’ surprisin’ things b’fore you die, Marty. And if you see your father and your mother a-growin’ younger, instead of older, you’d ought to be glad of that.”
“Crackey!” exclaimed Marty, “if that happens where’ll I be? Pretty soon I’ll be back inter pinafores. Good-night!”
Janice laughed and said: “And I’ll be curling him’s pretty hair and dressing him for Sunday School. I always did wish I had a baby brother, and you’ll do very well, Marty. Hurry up and grow backward, dear. I want to see how cunning you’d be in pinafores.”
“Huh!” snorted Marty. “Don’t you think you’re smart?”
Annette entered into none of this simple fun, whereas her brother was soon the life of the homegoing party. He did not wish his sister to suspect that he had anything to trouble him, and he succeeded very well.
Annette took all of the seat she conveniently could, ramming her elbows on either side into her companions. Aunt ’Mira was too “cushiony” to mind this; but Janice was made very uncomfortable physically as well as mentally by the selfishness of the older girl.
Everybody was glad when the sorrel team struck into High Street. It was midnight and the town was asleep. They were almost the first of the revelers to return. Marty drove to the Inn, where the Bowmans disembarked. Frank thanked the Days warmly for their courtesy; but Annette stalked into the Inn without even bidding them good-night.
“I’d like to have that girl for a sister,” grunted Marty, when they turned into Hillside Avenue. “Huh!”
Janice had not found much enjoyment in the barn dance, although she was asked to dance frequently, and had been on the floor as much as was good for her. The athletic instructor at the seminary had insisted on even the day scholars attending the dancing classes twice a week in the school gymnasium, and Janice knew how to dance some of the more modern dances approved by saner people.