But I think that, in the wish to do honour to so distinguished an occasion, the temper of Mis' Sykes, and perhaps of Ellen Ember too, was the secret temper of all the village.
IX
"NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH"
I daresay that excitement followed excitement when news of Calliope's party got abroad. But of this I knew little, for I spent those next days at the Proudfits' with Nita Ordway and little Viola, and though I thought often of Calliope, I chanced not to see her again until the holidays were almost upon us. In the late afternoon, two days before Christmas, I dropped in at her cottage to learn how pleasantly the plans for her party matured.
To my amazement I found her all dejection.
"Why, Calliope," I said, "can't the grandma ladies come, after all?"
Yes, they could come; they were coming.
"You are never sorry you asked them?" I pressed her.
No. Oh, no; she was glad she had asked them.