Part 16 (2/2)
But the ice-cream had arrived. The big white cake was cut, also a loaf of fruit cake; and in the chairs which had been gathered up and brought to the front of the house with the appearance of the guests, the girls and boys sat to eat slowly the cold cream, enjoy their cake and lay the foundations of future friends.h.i.+ps or cement those already formed. The high school ”case” between Ted Dorrance and Louise Madison was not particularly serious in its outlook; for Ted, like many boys, was admiring a girl older than himself just now, but some demure young miss of a younger cla.s.s, or not in his school at all, was likely to take his later attention.
CHAPTER XII: A CHANGE OF PLAN
”Is this Mr. Gwynne's residence?” asked Betty, a little timid, for a deep masculine voice had answered her ring at the telephone.
”Yes,” the response came, pleasantly.
”May I speak to Carolyn, please? It is Betty Lee.”
”I'll call Carolyn.” There was a few moments of waiting.
”'Lo, Bettykins. I was just going to call you.”
”Were you? What were you going to tell me?”
”You say what _you_ were going to first.”
”I'd rather not.”
”Please.”
”Well, though I just hate so to tell you what I'm going to.”
”So do I hate to tell you!”
Betty's little laugh, came to Carolyn over the wire.
”Wouldn't it be funny if it is about the same thing! Why Carolyn, I'm just sick about it, but I don't see how we can come to your house tonight. Father has to have a conference or something tonight down town and can't drive us out to your place. He's staying down for dinner somewhere, you know. So there's no one to take us and Mother doesn't think it's safe for us to go on the car and then walk as far as we'd have to, especially coming home.”
”That would be all right with our putting you on the car here. But really, Betty, it is a sort of relief, because I was wondering how to tell you that I can't have the party at all! Sister's having the house both nights, and besides, I was going to have you at least taken back home, so your father wouldn't have to come for you, but the cars will be in use, too. It was too bad of my sister not to tell me and Mother did not happen to say anything till this morning when she was asking my sister what she wanted for decorations. I said, 'Why, Mother, didn't you tell me I could have a party?' and Mother looked startled. 'Why so I did! I hope you haven't everybody invited!'
”So then I made it as nice for her as I could and said I thought I could change it to an afternoon one, and Betty, since you had that gorgeous party at your house, won't you let me have you and some of the other girls at our house Sat.u.r.day, tomorrow afternoon? Please. I've telephoned the _boys_ that my party had to be postponed, so this will be a 'hen party.' I'll have some sort of a party in the Christmas vacation, perhaps, to make it up to the boys, not to mention liking the fun myself.
”Will you mind _awfully_, Betty?” Carolyn's voice was both regretful and persuasive.
”Whyno, Carolynonly it isn't necessary for you to have us at all, you know, and I've invited all the other girls.”
”I know how we can fix that, easy as pie, Betty. I'll call all of them upI know whom you were going to have, you know, and I'll tell them that you and I are entertaining together at our house!”
”We-ll, but you'll have to let me really help, you know, get the refreshments and everything.”
”I'll see about thatthere will be such oodles around, with Sister's two parties, and we'll have all the benefits of her spuzzy decorations and won't hurt a thing, you know. Let's have it a thimble party. Didn't I see you making something for Christmas?”
”Yes. I brought a hanky I'm hemst.i.tching for Mother in school and worked on it a little while in between lunch and cla.s.s. It's so hard to get a chance without her catching me at it at home.”
”Bring it along and finish it up, then, Betty. Is it settled, then?”
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