"I do not think that I ever had so many dresses in all my life together," observed the girl. "What am I to do with them all?"
"You will find use for everything when you reach the college, Beatrice," smiled the lady. "This one is for evening. There are many social functions, and of course you will take part in them. It is tiresome, I know, to fit all these things but you will be glad later that you have them."
"I may be," answered Bee. "I am not ungrateful, aunty, for all that you are doing, only just now it seems as though there were ever so many more than I will need. And," she added with a troubled look and speaking in a lower tone, "are you sure that father can afford to spend so much on me?"
"You absurd child!" exclaimed Mrs. Raymond with misty eyes. "Of course he can. I think myself that he is doing more than is necessary, but it pleases him, Bee, so accept it for the pleasure it gives him."
"But if he is denying himself," began Bee, but they were interrupted by the entrance of Aunt Fanny.
"Dose satanic gen'mun dat wuz heah ter dinnah dat time dey is all downstairs, an' dey say dey wants ter see Miss Bee," she announced.
"Isn't it father?" asked Bee in astonishment. "He is in the library, Aunt Fanny. You mean him, don't you?"
"No'm; I doesn't. Dey said Miss Beatrice Raymond," answered the negress pompously. "Jest like dat: Miss Beatrice Raymond."
"Better run down, Bee," suggested her aunt. "I dare say that they wish to see you again as this may be their last visit before William goes."
So wonderingly Beatrice went down to the library. They were all there. The four scientists whom she had entertained with the Butterfly Dinner that now seemed so long ago. They arose at her entrance and greeted her cordially albeit with some embarrassment. Her father, too, appeared moved out of his ordinary composure.