But presently the ice was broken and the waters of sociability oozed along, if a little halting, when Esther blocked their way with her little snowball about Barbara being “a stranger in Sea Cosset, if she did live only just across the line.”
Of course Esther had to say that. “Just across the line”, as if a few scrub pines and a couple of wild fields could really make any difference in climate or territory. But one place was ordinary, Landing, the other exclusive, Sea Cosset.
Were they going to snub her? Cara’s profuse welcome seemed to Barbara a little strained, as if Cara were trying to cover up something. Only Ruth Harrison attempted to put Barbara at her ease and she undertook to criticize clothes.
“Now, that’s what I call a nifty little costume,” spoke out Ruth without an attempt at politeness. “Wherever did you get a rig like that, Barbara?”
Wherever did she get it? Barbara winced a little, then burst out laughing.
“No use trying to put on airs,” she declared gaily. “This is home-made and the cook helped me out.”
After that they all “joined in the chorus.” Every one told about where her clothes were bought, (if not actually quoting the prices) and there was more joy over a bargain—it was Ruth’s sport stockings two-ninety-eight, regular four dollars—than over the wonderful lace tracery on the side of Louise’s really lovely tub-silk dress.
Clothes! And Barbara would barely trust herself to utter the tricky little word!
“But are we all here?” Cara presently asked, for they were still hanging around the door, as if the arrival had not been completed.
Ruth counted six and that was all expected.