It had been predicted from the premature beginning of the winter's gaieties, that an ebb would occur before the Southern carnival, Christmas, and the party-goers resolved to falsify the prophecy.
Mrs. Dana called on the afternoon of the 24th to invite Ida and Josephine to dine with her. "You will see only ourselves and Mr. Holmes, who is Charley's shadow."
"A stupid set," was Josephine's reflection. "How pleasant," Ida's; and their answers corresponded. The former, "very sorry, papa would always dine at home, Christmas-day; he held it to be a religious duty she verily believed," laughing affectedly, "and he could not eat unless she were there."
Ida said, "I will come with pleasure, thank you," and lost all but the main purport of Miss Read's apology, in an eager whisper from Elle, who was with her mother.
"I don't hear, will I 'please come to what?'" lifting her to her lap.
Elle put her arms around her neck, and her mouth to her ear.
"To your molasses stew!" said Ida, "indeed I will. When is it to be?"
Another important whisper.
"Josephine, are we engaged for to-morrow evening?"
"I do not know," she replied, shortly.