11. The Mysterious Guest
“I think you ought to preside, Kit,” Virginia said as she arranged the table. “It’s your party, and you ought to serve.”
“Takes too much concentration,” Kit returned. “Anne’ll help you. I want to have my mind perfectly clear to manage the thing. You see, Jeannette doesn’t know a thing about it yet, and there’s no knowing how she’ll take it. Wouldn’t it be funny if she got proud and haughty and marched away from our Founders’ Tea?”
“I don’t think you ought to spring it until after we’ve had refreshments. Food has such a mellowing effect on people. It’s all a question of tact, though. If I were you, I’d talk to them in an intimate sort of way instead of lingering too much on the historic value. Better straighten Malcolm, over there. He looks kind of topply.”
Kit regarded the framed steel engraving of Malcolm Douglas almost fondly. It occupied a prominent spot specially cleared for it in the middle of the wall.
Backed by Della’s approval and interest, Kit had called at several homes where the descendants of other founders lived, and the results were gratifying. Mrs. Peter Bradbury had contributed two Indian blankets and a hunting bag, besides an old pair of saddle bags used by an early missionary bishop in the Northwest. From the cabinet in the Dean’s room had come mostly records, old documents carefully framed, and several letters written by the founders themselves.
“Golly,” Kit said as she gave a last touch to her exhibit, “of course these are important, but I like the Indian and hunting things best. I wish I could run away with that double pair of buffalo horns that belonged to Dr. Gleason’s granduncle or somebody. I like them better than anything.”
A quick rap came on the door, and before Virginia could even call “come in” Peggy entered with her usual galaxy behind her, Amy, Georgia, and a newcomer from Iowa, Henrietta Jenkins.
“Tony Conyers sent word she’d be ready in five minutes,” said Georgia. “She’s got a lot of the girls in there with her. Ginny, I think this is a perfectly stupendous idea of yours.”