“Yes, dear; I greatly admire both the Armitage girls. I am glad they are coming; but why should not Miss Miller come also?”
“Only, she is not in their 'set,' mother—that is all. I wish—I do wish you would ask her to postpone her visit. If she must come, let her come another Saturday.”
“I will think about it,” said Mrs. Hartrick. “I have certainly promised and——But I will think about it.”
Linda saw that she could not press her mother any further. She went away in great disquietude.
“What is to be done?” she thought. “If only mother would speak to Molly at once; but Molly is so impetuous; and once Stephanotie is asked, there will be no getting out of it. She is just the sort of girl to tell that unpleasant story about me, too. If mother knew that, why, I should at last be in her black books. Well, whatever happens, Stephanotie must not be asked to spend the afternoon here to-morrow. I must somehow contrive to put some obstacle in the way.”
CHAPTER XXI. — THE ROSE-COLORED DRESS.
Meanwhile Molly rushed off to Nora. “Linda means mischief, and I must put my foot down immediately,” she said.
“Why, Molly, what is up?”