“Ach! The butter is too difficult!”
“Cream it, then. So!” and Alice illustrated. “I’ll go to work on these, too, while Hannah puts away the dishes, for I don’t know where they belong.”
“All right,” said Catherine. “But please don’t talk, any of you, for a few minutes. I don’t want 257 to lose a word that any of you say, and I’m afraid the cake may suffer.”
Dr. Helen stopped at the door and looked in at the group of silent workers. They all threw her kisses, and she went smiling on her way.
“I wish I had four of my own,” she thought to herself. “How the other mothers must be missing them! Four more interesting and delightful girls I never have known. Hannah has grown more mature since I saw her last, and Frieda is distinctly unique. Alice is the kind you can tie to. But I really think, without prejudice, my Catherine is a shade sweeter and steadier and more responsible than all the rest!”
By five o’clock the house was all ready. The decorations were great masses of goldenrod which Bert and Polly had gathered. Frieda had suggested tying them with bows of red ribbon, whereat the others had shrieked with horror and tried to Americanize her color sense a little. She approved of the birthday cake, and was interested in the big tin circle which held fifty candle-sockets, and would slip over the cake as it rested on a tray. Winding this circle with smilax proved a task just to Frieda’s mind, and she worked at it with Hannah’s help, while Alice and Catherine planned the “recreation” for the evening.
“I’m so glad,” said Catherine, stretching a little, “that we don’t have to get the Rest ready for them. 258 Refreshments and Recreation are enough to provide!”
“You need the Rest yourself,” said Hannah. “I think it was a shame that out-of-town call had to come for your mother this afternoon. She would have enjoyed these things, and she looked so tired.”
“I know. But I’m so glad she could go away and feel sure I’d carry things through. You don’t know what a comfort that is to me! Whenever I feel discouraged about things, I always pluck up spirit by remembering that I’m really useful to her. I couldn’t practise medicine myself, you know, but there have been lots of things Mother couldn’t have done, if I hadn’t been here to help at home. I wish she could be here this afternoon, though, for she is so clever at foolishnesses like this.”
“You’re clever enough at it, yourself,” growled Hannah. “I don’t see how you can do it. You and Alice make me sick with envy. You can cook and manage and tutor and make rhymes and everything, and I can’t do much of anything!”