CHAPTER CXI
ON VALENTINE'S DAY
"BOB, the flowers are lovely!" said Bettina, looking again at the brilliant tulips on the dinner table. "They make this a real valentine dinner, although there is nothing festive about it. I had intended to plan something special, but I went to a valentine luncheon at Mary's, and stayed so late——"
"A valentine luncheon? With red hearts everywhere, I suppose?"
"Yes, everything heart-shaped, and in red, too, as far as possible. Mary had twelve guests at one large round table. Of course, there were strings and strings of red hearts of various sizes decorating the table—not a very new idea, of course, but so effective. And everything tasted so good; cream of tomato soup, the best stuffed tenderloin with mushroom sauce (I must find out how that is made), and the best sweet potato croquettes!"
"Sweet potato croquettes? That's a new one on me!"
"I'll have to try them some time soon. And Mary had peas in heart-shaped baking powder biscuits—the cunningest you ever saw!—heart-shaped date bread sandwiches with her salad, and heart-shaped ice cream with individual heart cakes."
"That was Valentine's day with a vengeance; wasn't it?"
"Yes, but it was lovely, Bob!"
That night Bettina served: