“Introducing the Marquis di Briganza and Lord Albert Spencer Ormond. Ignatius Donahue.”
The cards were foreign-looking square pieces of pasteboard engraved with the names of these noble gentlemen, one of whom was attached to an Embassy in Washington.
“Now, what in the world?” cried Miss Campbell, and the girls seemed quite awe-struck at these high-sounding titles. “Why should Ignatius Donahue send these titled persons to meet us? We are just plain, simple Americans and I don’t think a Marquis and a Lord would add to our pleasure a bit. Do you, children?”
“No,” answered Billie emphatically.
“I shall be afraid of them, I am certain,” said Mary.
“We shall have to put on our best clothes to meet them, I suppose,” was Nancy’s observation; while Elinor, holding herself very grandly, remarked:
“I am sure, we are quite as good as they.”
“Noble princess,” laughed Billie, “of course you are and so are we all, but don’t you think it’s a nuisance to have to give up our morning ride and change our dresses just to spend half an hour with two silly foreign lords? They’ll probably have little mustaches that are waxed and turned up at the ends, and wear high-heeled shoes and carry rattan canes and——”
“But the boy is waiting,” interrupted Miss Campbell. “Shall I send word we’ll be down presently?”
“Of course,” they answered in a chorus, and Miss Campbell smiled to herself. After all, it was not an every-day occurrence to have a Lord and a Marquis pay a friendly morning call.