"The dress of sky blue."
"What, my last year's best?" laughed Molly. "My lady, you ask too much. I must preserve that for year after next best. But, seeing that you are doing honor to this happy occasion, Miss Sen, I'll wear it to please you."
She soon attired herself in the blue crêpe de chine over which she and Nance had labored so industriously the winter before.
The two girls strolled downstairs together and at the first landing Molly began sniffing the air.
"'If my ole nose don't tell no lies,
It 'pears like I smells custard pies,'"
she remarked smiling.
Molly squeezed the little Japanese's plump waist.
"Yes, I know it's 'meence,'" she said, "but custard pies stand for mince and turkey and baked macaroni and all sorts of good things. We'll soon find out what Mrs. Murphy's been up to."
Pushing open the dining room door, she gave a start of surprise. The room was deserted and almost dark, and the long table was not even set for two.