The first house was General Townsend’s; and when Mrs. Townsend came to the door, Milly hid behind a lilac-bush; but Flaxie, who was never afraid of anybody, looked up with her laughing blue eyes, and said, without stopping for ‘How d’ye do?’—
“Oh, Mrs. Townsend, I’m goin’ to have a party six years old, and mayn’t Fanny come? Auntie Prim says for the children to come early,—at ha’ pas’ two,—and she’ll be thankful when it’s over.”
Mrs. Townsend could not possibly help smiling at this remarkable speech, but she replied that Fanny might go.
“Now, Flaxie Frizzle,” said Mabel, as the door closed, “you oughtn’t to say your auntie’ll be ‘thankful’; it isn’t polite.”
“Yes it is. I guess Auntie Prim knows; she knows everything. But ’fore I’d run and hide!” retorted Flaxie.
There wasn’t any lilac-bush at the next house, and Milly had to stand on the door-stone and hide under her hat.
It was surprising how fast Flaxie said it over: “I’m goin’ to have a party six years old,” &c., without skipping a word; and though Milly had her doubts about the politeness of Mrs. Prim’s being so “thankful,” she did think Flaxie Frizzle was a wonderful girl; and indeed Flaxie thought so too.
“What, back so soon?” said Auntie Prim, who had scarcely missed the children before they appeared again at the pantry-door, rosy with running.
“Yes um; I’ve invited ’em all up.”
Flaxie said “I” with quite an air.