“As lovely a day as we could have asked for,” Annis said, and Elsie responded, “Yes, indeed! I think everybody will come, for no regrets have been sent in and there is no excuse to be found in weather or the state of the roads.”
“I don’t believe anybody is anxious for an excuse,” said Annis. “I haven’t a doubt they’re all glad you invited them.”
All their preparations being already made, the children spent nearly all the morning in out-of-door sports, making the most of the good weather, and coming in just in time to be dressed for dinner at as early an hour as any of the invited guests could be expected.
They all came; both older and younger, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys—excepting Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore, of Roselands, who had accepted a prior invitation.
It had been foreseen that in such case the house would be so full that Elsie and Annis would each be constrained to accept a bed-fellow, and Annis had expressed a strong preference for sharing Elsie’s room and bed, giving up hers to two of the new-comers; and so it was arranged; Carrie Howard and Lucy Carrington being installed in Annis’s room, immediately on their arrival.
They had scarcely taken possession when the Roselands’ carriage drove up and deposited Adelaide, Walter, and Enna.
“I meant to be among the first,” Adelaide said, as Rose hastened to meet her at the door with a warm, sisterly greeting, “but Enna delayed us so with her whims and tempers that I presume we are the very last.”
“Yes, you are a few minutes behind the Carringtons, who came after everybody else but you; but never mind, it’s better late than never, and you are in full time for dinner. Come let me have the pleasure of showing you to your room. I am sorry to have to ask you to take Enna in with you, but we are so full that we have no separate room to offer her.”
“There is no need of apology,” Adelaide returned good-humoredly; “and I think it is a much better plan than it would be to put her with any one else. Come, Enna, you are to go with me. Didn’t you hear?”
“Yes; but what if I don’t choose to?” the child answered, with a pout.