Dick’s and Alice’s going seemed to have finished things, at least for the time being. Her question was answered as soon as she got home.
“Jane,” said her mother, “I have just received an invitation for you and the girls that I am a little doubtful about. Ernest and Sherm are invited, too, but not to remain for the night.”
“Stay all night? Where, Mother, where?”
“With Mamie Jenkins. The Jenkins family are hardly as refined as I could wish for your associates; still they are good religious people, if they are plain, and Katy and Gertie might enjoy going to a country party.”
“A party? O Mother, please let us go.”
“I don’t mind so much your coming to the party, but they want to have you stay overnight and attend a picnic some of the young people are getting up for the next afternoon.”
Katy was as eager as Jane for the festivity and Mrs. Morton was at length persuaded to pocket her scruples and permit the girls to accept Mamie’s invitation. Ernest and Sherm were also delighted at the prospect of a frolic. They were to take the 143girls over and leave them for the night, returning the next afternoon for the picnic, which was to start from the Jenkin’s farm.
But when the day of the party arrived, Gertie backed out, begging to be left at home with Mrs. Morton. The thought of meeting so many strangers frightened her.
“I doubt if she would enjoy it. She would be the youngest one there–most of them will be from fourteen to twenty. The neighbors live so far apart, they have to combine different ages in order to find guests enough for a party.”
At first, Chicken Little would not hear to Gertie’s remaining behind, but finding that she would really be happier at home, stopped urging her. Jane and Katy were soon joyfully planning what they should wear. They were to go in their party frocks, each taking another dress along for the morning and the picnic. Jane was to wear Alice’s gift. Katy had a dainty ruffled muslin with cherry-colored sash and hair ribbons.