Together they climbed the fourth and last flight of stairs and received a noisy greeting from the others on entering the tower room.
Jack gave them an elaborate bow.
"I assure you, my friends, we feel flattered by this demonstrative welcome."
"We don't want to throw cold lemonade on your joy, me boy, but your credentials are excellent," returned Mat, taking the cake from Kizzie.
Jed and the little maid, assisted by the boys, proceeded to pour out lemonade and to cut cake amid the clinking of glasses and merry talk.
The tower room was of octagon shape; crimson tapestry curtains edged with tarnished gilt fringe hung at the eight narrow windows, and a rug of faded crimson velvet half covered the painted floor. A heavy walnut table and a revolving bookcase graced the centre of the room, and an old fashioned wooden settee and several ancient chairs stood round, now occupied by the young people who ate and drank and chattered, the majority quite unmindful of their journey's object—Old Sol, in his departing splendor, glorifying the clouds with prismatic color, ere he sank beyond the far-reaching hills.
"You look quite uplifted," cried Alene, when Ivy, one of the few onlookers, turned from the window.
She gave an expressive glance backward toward the fast-fading sky.
"It's that and something Hugh just told me. He spoke to Dr. Medway—"
"Yes, I know, and oh, I'm so glad!"