“To Mrs Barnes’,” said Rose. “Miss Cressly brought home my dress to-day, and she told me all about it. Her sister is nurse there. The party is to be quite a splendid affair. It is given in honour of Miss Grove, who has just come home. I wish I were going with you.”
“You may go without me! I will give you my invitation. It is a great bore, and I don’t believe I shall go. I don’t see the good of it.”
“But you promised,” said Graeme.
“Well, I suppose I must go for a while. But it is very stupid.”
“Just as if you could make us believe that. It must be delightful. I think it’s very stupid of you and Graeme, not to like parties.”
“You forget. I was not asked,” said Graeme.
“But you might have been, if you had returned Mrs Barnes’ call soon enough. How nice it would have been! I wish I were Miss Grove, to have a party given for me. She is a beauty, they say. You must notice her dress, Arthur, and tell me all about it.”
“Oh! certainly,” said Arthur, gravely. “I’ll take particular notice. But come, get your hats. There is time enough for a walk before I go. Haste, Rosie, before the finest of the evening is past. Are you coming, Will? Man! you shouldna read by that light. You will blind yourself. Put away your book, you’ll be all the better for a walk.”
They lingered a moment at the gate.
“Here is Harry!” exclaimed Rose. “And some one with him. Charlie Millar, I think.”