“Will we? Of course we will! When did she ask us? Why didn’t you tell us before?”
“She gave me the message this afternoon, and you have really not given me a chance to tell it before.”
“What a libel. Say to her that we will go; no doubt of that, is there, Dolly? Let us put on our best gowns and do justice to the occasion. Is anyone else invited, Mary?”
“We are to go immediately after dinner, and a couple of hours later, Miss Hamilton and some fifteen others will arrive. We must help entertain them. You know there is nothing special on hand for Tuesday evening.”
“We should go, anyway, no matter where else we were invited,” declared Dolly with decision. “By the way, girls, the year is practically over, and our president still goes on her way serenely, and the very snobbiest girls in the class adore her.”
“I am glad. We don’t want any class rows, and you know very well how Abby Dunbar and Helen Raymond would act, if they knew the truth. Though, after all, I cannot see what difference it makes.”
“Where is she going this summer? Do either of you know?”
“I asked her yesterday. She is going home for three or four weeks with Abby Dunbar. After that, she and her mother are going to some quiet country place.”
Beth gave a sudden laugh. “You know, Mrs. Hamilton never comes to the college, but Margaret goes to see her almost daily. Abby Dunbar must have seen her on the evening of our entertainment, for she told me that she admired Mrs. Hamilton so much; it was such a pity that she was an invalid! Margaret has never said that she was an invalid, you know. I suppose Abby just concluded that she must be, because she leads such a quiet life.”
“She does it entirely for Margaret’s sake, I’m sure. Not that Margaret asks her to do it, but she fears to meet people who knew her when she was a servant. Abby approves of her, because she dresses well, and is at the most aristocratic boarding-place in Westover.”