"Where are the girls this afternoon?" inquired Mr. Emerson, as he threw in the clutch and started toward the outskirts of Rosemont where he had land enough to allow him to do a little farming.
"Helen and Ethel Brown have gone to the West Woods," replied Roger, accounting for his sisters. "Somebody told them that there was a wild grapevine there that still had yellow leaves bright enough for them to use for decorating tomorrow evening."
"I should be afraid last night's frost would have shriveled them. What are Ethel Blue and Dorothy up to?" asked Mr. Emerson.
Ethel Blue was Roger's cousin who had lived with the Mortons since her babyhood. Dorothy Smith was also his cousin. She and her mother lived in a cottage on Church Street.
"They must be over at Dorothy's working up schemes for tomorrow," Roger answered his grandfather's question. "I haven't seen them since luncheon."
"How many do you expect at your party?"
"Just two or three more besides the United Service Club. James Hancock won't be able to come, though. His leg isn't well enough yet."
"Pretty bad break?"
"He says it's bad enough to make him remember not to cut corners when he's driving a car. Any break is too bad in my humble opinion."
"In mine, too. How many in the Club? Ten?"