“Well, I am sure nobody ever would,” said Nan.
The girls had decided that the only way to take care of so many guests was to double up “in layers,” as Lucy called it. Bobby was sent over into the new house with Lewis and Bill, his old tent mates, for whom Nan and Lucy had vacated their room while they came over to the old house and brought Tillie Wingo with them.
“Three in a double bed and two in a single bed wouldn’t be so bad after a ball,” Nan had declared.
Dressing for the ball was the more difficult feat, however. The ceiling was so low and sloping and Tillie Wingo did take up so much room with her fluffy ruffles. The Carter girls were glad to see the voluble Tillie. She was such a gay, good-natured person and seemed so pleased to be included in this pleasure party. She looked as pretty as a pink in a much beruffled painted chiffon; and while they were dressing, she obligingly showed Helen the very latest steps in dancing.
Helen was charming in her birthday present dress. Nan declared she looked like the princess in the fairy tale with the dress like the moonlight.
“With all my finery, I don’t look nearly so well as you do, Douglas,” Helen declared.
Indeed Douglas was beautiful. She had on the graduating dress, the price of which had caused her so much concern the spring before. With careful ripping out of sleeves and snipping down of neck, Mrs. Carter had converted it into an evening dress with the help of a wonderful lace fichu, something left over from her own former splendor.
The sight of her eldest daughter all dressed in the ball gown brought tears of regret to poor Mrs. Carter’s eyes.