“O, I don’t need anything more! I’m longing to tell Rose and then we’ll both be looking forward to the summer!” she cried. “And I feel sure Tommy’ll come, too, and that will make it perfect.”
Her eyes fell. As she raised them, the girl smiled wanly. Generous to a fault, he saw that she endeavored to fall in with his beginning.
“I’ll tell Tommy it will be the Latin Composition class only with another teacher and you on the bench with us three,” she said as lightly as she could.
“No benches for us!” he exclaimed. “Settees in the garden and sofas and stuffed chairs in the billiard-room. I got globes and raised maps and impedimenta of all sorts and we’ll have a fine study up there on the top floor.”
CHAPTER XL
THE first use to which the great handsome room with its beamed ceiling, great chimney, deep fire-place, and handsome solid furnishings was put was social, however, rather than educational. On Sunday, Meadowcroft showed Betty the draught of an invitation he was preparing to send out to the Appletons and to the members of the fourth-year class of the Paulding High School.
“Mr. Humphrey Meadowcroft requests the honor of your company at 20, West Main Street, South Paulding, on Saturday, April 17th, at half-past three o’clock. At four, Mr. Thomas Finnemore, assisted by Miss Pogany, will give an exhibition of magic and Miss Harrow will play selections on the pianoforte. Supper will be served at half-past six and carriages to take the guests home will be at the door at half-past eight.
R.S.V.P.”
“Can you suggest any changes?” he asked gravely.
Overjoyed as she was with the thought of the happiness in store for Rose and Tommy, on a sudden a sense of her own unworthiness swept over Betty Pogany.