No one spoke of the entertainment to Laura, but at dinner on the Fourth, she officially announced it. "I suppose," she said graciously, "you have already heard of it, though we have not mentioned it. You will all come, won't you?"
"You bet your life!" cried Bob irrepressibly. But with that one exception, the family received Laura's announcement as gravely as it was made.
It was a group struggling hard to preserve its gravity that issued from the Ark and wended its way to the chapel after tea. Laura's family seated themselves far enough back to be able to retreat if the ordeal proved too trying.
Mrs. Scollard and Happie sympathized with each other's uneasiness and mortification, Miss Bradbury sat erect with a blank countenance, but the three boys gave themselves up to unreserved glee, leaning on the big sticks with which they had provided themselves for applause.
Gretta came late, and joined Happie in the seat which the latter had saved for her.
"Don't you worry," whispered Gretta. "Maybe she won't be so bad when she is giving an entertainment; maybe folks won't think she is silly."
This was the first intimation that Happie had received that her friend had been privately regarding her gifted sister as foolish, when that young person herself had fondly believed that she was impressing the country girl.
Laura came before the audience with a most serious face, but looking her best, with her cheeks red from excitement, and her eyes shining.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she said with a little bow, "this is the Fourth of July. I think we ought to begin by singing 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee.'"
"That is a good beginning," whispered Mrs. Scollard, with a breath of temporary relief.