“Ask ahead,” invited Ruth, with an encouraging smile. Fully expecting that of the six girls Emmy would be the hardest to convert, Jane’s obstinate stand had surprised her considerably. She mentally offered a vote of thanks to Frances for her timely oration.
“What are you going to do about Marian?” questioned Jane. “I think she ought to have her say in the matter, too.”
“I’ll write her to-night,” promptly assured Ruth. “Blanche is anxious to know her fate, but I didn’t promise when I would tell her. If she asks me about it to-morrow, I will explain that we can’t answer until we hear from Marian. If she should ask any one of you, please tell her the same. I don’t imagine that she will, though.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if she did,” declared Jane. “She’ll be crazy to know.”
“Having settled the question, suppose we give Blanche a rest,” suggested tactful Betty. She had sensed a slight weariness in Ruth’s voice as she gave her final direction, and realized that the valiant Torch Bearer would welcome a change of subject.
“Jane and I are not going to send our guests away hungry,” she made further cheerful announcement. “Hidden away in the bottom of the wardrobe are eats—glorious eats. Come on, Jane, let’s spread the feast. Which will you have, girls, tea or chocolate?”
Unanimous decision in favor of the latter sent Betty to her closet, the top shelf of which harbored the necessary ingredients. Meanwhile, Jane knelt before the open wardrobe, extracting numerous brown paper parcels that smacked of delicatessen.
“Come here and make yourself useful, Frances,” she ordered. “Take this stuff as I hand it to you, and be sure you put it on the table, right side up with care.”
“I will cheerfully and skillfully perform my act of contrition. So glad of the opportunity,” amiably avowed Frances as she proceeded to carry out Jane’s directions with an exaggerated carefulness that was irresistibly funny.
“We’ll have to hustle,” observed Jane, who had busied herself with the laying out of the various comestibles, while Frances, under her instruction, set the oblong center table with such dishes and cutlery as were available. “It’s half past nine now. Ten-thirty will be here before we know it.”