“I hate for Helen to miss one teensy bit of the ball,” Nan said. “She does so adore dancing.”
“I should think she would. Anybody who can dance like that ought to like it. I think she is a ripper to go to those old grouches.”
“Now, Billy, that is no way to talk! Those old ladies are really lovely. You would have gone to them in a minute.”
“Well, maybe! But I wouldn’t have enjoyed leaving this to go.”
“Perhaps they will be able to come back. Miss Louise is an awful alarmist.”
Supper was served, the waiters from Richmond taking affairs into their own hands, so that the untrained country servants at Weston were pushed into the background.
“Miss Helen done said I’s got quite a el’gant air in serving,” grumbled Chloe, when she was not allowed to bear in the trays of dainties to the hungry guests. “I reckon these here town niggers thinks they is the king bees. I don’t care what they says, I’s gonter git a sicond hep ter my Miss Helen.”
The girl filled a tray with salad, croquettes, sandwiches and what not and made her way into the parlors. She peered around for her young mistress. The rooms were well filled with the country guests and many couples were having their supper in the nooks made by the skilful decorators of clumps of palms and evergreens. Chloe peeped behind them all and not finding her Miss Helen she went to Douglas.
“Whar Miss Helen?”
“Why, I don’t know, Chloe! What do you want?”