CHAPTER XXXIII
AFTER THE "TEA"
"DOESN'T it bore you to think of cooking when you've been out all afternoon?" asked Mrs. Dixon, wearily. "And today the refreshments were so elaborate and everything was so stiff and tiresome!"
"I usually anticipate feeling this way," said Bettina, "and plan to have something at home that is already prepared, and that I can get together without much trouble. Then I put on a house dress as quickly as I can, for I can't bear to cook in party clothes. But I'm sure I don't know what I am going to have for dinner tonight. Bob and I had planned to go downtown to dinner with some friends, but just before I went out this afternoon he phoned that the invitation had been withdrawn because of somebody's illness."
"Goodness!" cried Mrs. Dixon, "what will you do? Go downtown yourselves?"
"No; Bob doesn't enjoy that, and neither do I. I can manage somehow, for of course there are always things in the house to get. I'll tell you. I'll phone Bob to bring Mr. Dixon here, and you can see what an emergency supper is like."
"Oh, I couldn't think of it! You're tired, and it's nearly six now!"
"Well, what of that? You can help. And I know you're dreading to get dinner at home. We'll just combine forces."
Bettina went to the telephone and called Bob. "Hello, dear! Please bring Mr. Dixon home to dinner with you; Charlotte is going to stay. And if you come in his car, will you stop on the way and get a watermelon that has been on ice? Be sure it's cold!"