“Oh, Chloe, it is splendid!” she said in delight. “I never saw china and glass glisten so.”
“Yes, honey, it do glisten, and so do the silver. Jes’ you wait till the lamps are lighted and you see that table with the fried chicken and oysters and pounded biscuit and muffins and raspberry jam. Be sure and hurry back, honey! Come as soon as ever you can!”
As eager to be among all these triumphs as was Chloe to have her, Hilda promised, when a new thought came to her.
“Chloe, will there be little bouquets at the plates and a large one in the center of the table as Mrs. Courtney likes to have at home?”
“I ’spect so, honey. Mis’ Emma allus sees to the flowers. There’s oceans of ’em growin’ wild in the yards and garden.”
“Oh, Chloe, I have the loveliest pink rosebuds at home. I will bring them to put at Mr. Valentine’s plate.”
“Where did you get them, honey?”
“The miller’s wife gave the bush to me. She asked Miss Jerusha Flint for it, because it had been planted by Aunt Ashley. And Miss Jerusha gave it, although she knew it was for me. I knew nothing of it until I came one evening from school and found it in my flower bed. It was very kind of them.”
“I ’spect, honey, Miss Flint don’t care for flowers, or you wouldn’t have it now.”
Hilda smiled and was hurrying away when she caught sight of Chloe’s first guest.