"It is a beautiful and helpful thing to have a happy childhood to look back upon," answered their aunt. "When I meet discontented, cynical people I feel sure that no sweet true child-life lies behind them. I want my boys and girls to be able to say that their happiest times have been at home. Here comes our housekeeper."
There was certainly a housewifely air about Dora's plump little figure in her simple white dress as she came to speak to Miss Brown and get Aunt Zélie to pin on her flowers.
"Everybody is here but Ikey and Jim," announced Louise, whose blue ribbons were fluttering from one end of the house to the other.
"Here they are!" called Carl from the window, "and someone else; it must be Uncle William!"
Great excitement prevailed till the door opened and it proved to be Mr. Caruth.
"I had forgotten you were invited, but I am very glad to see you," Louise said, advancing to meet him.
"Then I should not have been missed if I had not come?" he said, shaking hands with Mrs. Howard.
"Oh, I had only forgotten for a minute, because I have so much on my mind!" she explained, laughing. "Why, Jim, what lovely flowers! Ikey, where is your buttonhole bouquet that I took so much trouble to make?"
Ikey stared blankly at his undecorated coat. "Oh! I forgot it. I put it in the refrigerator; I'll go and get it."
"In the refrigerator?" repeated the girls with one voice. "Just like a boy!"