"Come as often as you like, my dears; we shall love to have you," said Mrs. Grey, who, on this second, longer seeing, had taken the Rutherfords quite into her motherly heart.
"Did you have a good time, children?" she asked as the girls kissed her good-night, Oswyth last of all, as she always contrived to be.
"Beautiful, Mardy," said Wythie. "I really think, as Basil said, it was as nice a party as I ever went to."
"And I think they are glorious boys," said Prue. "I'm so glad we've found such nice new friends."
"So am I; it's as fortunate for the three lassies as it is for the three lads," said Mrs. Grey.
"And I am glad the grass is cut, you unpractical little girls, Mardy, Wythie, and Prudy, all three of you," said Rob, looking out with much satisfaction on the smooth lawn as she pulled down the shade and lighted her bedtime candle.
CHAPTER THREE
ITS MASTER
The morning after the bee Oswyth was washing dishes and Prue was wiping them, while Roberta polished the stove, whistling in cheerful oblivion of the large polka-dot of blacking adorning her cheek.