“I say it’s too bad,” Enna burst out, “that people are always calling me selfish and ill-natured and domineering. I should think I’ve as good a right to have my way as anybody else.”
“Not all the time,” returned Mr. Dinsmore. “And hardly at all when you are a minority of one against a majority of half a dozen or more. But I certainly did not say you were selfish and domineering.”
On their return they found themselves barely in time for dinner. The party not being very large, the children were allowed to dine with the older people, and Elsie, to her no small content, was seated between her father and Mr. Travilla, Annis being on the latter gentleman’s other side.
Both little girls were well waited upon and were quietly happy and contented, saying next to nothing themselves, but enjoying the conversation of their elders.
Walter, seated on the opposite side of the table, seemed in excellent spirits.
“That’s a splendid little turnout of yours,” he said, looking across at Elsie. “I tell you I enjoyed the drive, only it wasn’t half long enough. But you’ll lend it to me again, won’t you?”
She smiled and nodded assent.
“I’m going to the Oaks to spend Christmas week, but Enna says she isn’t,” he went on in a lowered voice, glancing in Enna’s direction.
Elsie’s eyes followed his, and she saw that Enna’s face was clouded and angry. She was sorry, but made no remark about it.
After dinner Lora invited Elsie and Annis to her room to show them some pretty things she was making as Christmas gifts for her father and mother, and to talk about what she should wear to the party at Pine Grove. She was quite surprised to hear that they were both invited, still more that Elsie’s father had consented to let her go. Then she wanted to know just how they were to be dressed.