“Her mother, being the most famous clubwoman in America, hasn’t spent much time at home? Is that it?”
“Well, yes,” admitted Molly. “In fact, she hardly remembers she has a daughter,” she added indignantly, and then bit her lip, feeling that she was bordering on disloyalty.
The Professor cleared his throat and thrust his hands into his pockets. He was really very boyish-looking to be so old.
“So you have set your heart on Miss Oldham’s going to the supper to-night?” he said gravely.
“If there is any fun going, Judy and I would be sorry to have her miss it,” she answered. “And I don’t suppose it would be thrilling to dine at the President’s with a lot of learned older people.”
“I’m just on my way to President Walker’s now,” pursued the Professor thoughtfully. “In fact, I was just about to deliver my regrets in person regarding dinner to-night, and having some business to attend to with Miss Walker, I thought I would call. While I am there, it is possible—well, in fact, Miss Brown, there should be a good fairy provided by Providence to grant all unselfish wishes. She would not be a busy fairy by any means, I am afraid, except when she hovered around you. Good morning,” and lifting his hat, the Professor hastened away, leaving Molly in a state of half-pleased perplexity.
On the table in her room she found a note from Mrs. McLean, inviting her to supper that evening. Two other invitations from the same lady were handed to Nance and Judy, but Nance was at that moment seated at her desk accepting an invitation from Miss Walker to dine there with her mother at seven. She was writing the answer very carefully and slowly, in her best handwriting, and on her best monogram note paper.
“Do you think that’s good enough?” she demanded, handing the note to Molly to read.
“Why, yes,” answered Molly, looking it over hastily while she prepared to write her own answer to Mrs. McLean, and then she threw herself into the business of “cloud-bursts.”
Just as the lunch gong sounded, Bridget, the Irish waitress at President Walker’s house, appeared at their half-open door.