“The fact is,” said Pauline, “we forgot to put on our outdoor shoes, and the dew is very heavy.”
“Dear, dear! That will never do. Father, what do you think these silly little misses have done? They’ve come out in their house slippers.”
“I never!” cried the farmer. “You are silly little ladies; that I will say. I tell you what it is, Nance; we don’t want these children to catch cold. Shall we drive back to The Hollies and get them some of your shoes? You have enough, I take it, to shoe a regiment.”
Nancy laughed.
“They wouldn’t fit,” she said. “They’d be too big for any of them.”
“Well, then,” said the farmer, “they shall all three take their shoes off and wrap their feet in these warm rugs. They can put them on again, and when the dancing begins they will soon dry.”
“Are we to dance?” said Pauline, her eyes sparkling.
“You wait and see,” said Nancy.
“Yes, you wait and see,” cried the farmer. “There are all sorts of surprises. And there’s a birthday queen of this here party, ain’t there, Nancy?”
“I have heard tell that there was,” said Nancy. As she spoke she took Pauline’s hand and dragged the little girl forward to sit by her.