“Dolly thinks that she will be near Professor Newton now, and she would be willing to room on the roof to effect that,” said Beth mischievously.
But Dolly was too elated to mind Beth’s teasing. “We’ll make all sorts of pretty things this summer. By the way, Beth, where do you intend to spend the summer, anyway?”
“Father says that Mother and I may decide that weighty matter. We have been in the habit of going to the seashore, but he fancies that some other place would be better for Roy, although the child is very much stronger since Mother has had him at home under her eye.”
“Then, Elizabeth Newby, I will tell you what to do. Mother writes that Father has taken the same cottage at the Thousand Isles that we had last year. You must come there, too. We can have an ideal time. Fred likes fishing and yachting. He will be away part of the summer, but will be with us at first, and a crowd of his friends, too. We can have glorious times! Hurrah!”
“Hurrah!” echoed Beth, for the idea caught her fancy. “We shall certainly do it! Mother will agree to whatever I propose. I wish you were to be there, too, Mary.”
But Mary shook her head contentedly. “I know it is much more beautiful than our farm, but I don’t believe that even a sight of the Alps would induce me to miss my visit home.”
“Of course not. But you see, fortunately, Dolly and I mean to take our families along. What a good time we shall have! I wonder if Professor Newton wouldn’t like to make us a little visit? It is beautiful there, and the ride on the steamers, out and in among the islands on a moonlight night, is as lovely as anything in fairyland.”
“Go and ask her, Dolly, run right off! Someone else may get her promise first!”
“Be still, Beth! Do you think that she would like to go, Mary?”
“I should certainly suppose that she would be delighted. By the way, as we are only insignificant freshies still, and have no receptions or other grand functions on hand like the other classes, she wanted to know if we would spend Tuesday evening with her.”