Part 7 (1/2)

”Live and learn,” replied Laura, nonchalantly. ”The explanation is simple. Just lack of perception. 'Ye have eyes and ye see not.'”

”For pity's sake, keep still, you two,” said Bess. ”We have too many things to talk about to listen to repartee, even to such brilliant specimens.”

”Snubbed!” groaned Laura, as she lifted the last bonbon from the box.

”Here, greedy,” said Rhoda. ”I saw that candy first.”

”Well, I ate it first,” grinned Laura tantalizingly.

”Will you girls keep still?” cried Bess despairingly. ”I want to find out what Grace is going to wear.”

”Yes, sweetheart,” said Rhoda meekly, as she flopped down into the nearest seat at hand. ”That is really a most interesting and all-important question, and we will come to that anon. But first I want to remark that I feel as though we had been nearly caught at a regular spread.”

”Spread! Where have I heard that word before?” exclaimed Laura dramatically. ”Isn't it time we had a regular one? I tell you what, girls, let's celebrate by having a real honest-to-goodness spread.

There's a reason.”

”As if you ever needed a reason for having a spread!” laughed Bess. ”But I second the motion.”

”I'm expecting a box from home any minute,” said Rhoda, ”and I'll donate it to the cause.”

”I'll furnish the fruit,” Grace offered.

”Dandy!” exclaimed Laura. ”Put me down for cocoa and milk and sugar.

Will you supply the sandwiches, Nan?”

”I'm willing to furnish the sandwiches,” agreed Nan, a little doubtfully. ”But do you think we'd better have it just now?”

”Oh, come on, Nan,” urged Laura. ”Be a sport. Isn't Grace worth a chance?”

And Nan, unwilling to spoil the others' sport, a.s.sented, though with some inward misgiving.

”Can't we go to town to-morrow after recitations, and get the things?”

Bess proposed.

”O. K.,” acquiesced Laura contentedly. ”And now to return to the vital question. What, Grace darling, are you going to wear at Palm Beach?”

”I'd like to get new gowns and things,” Grace replied; ”but it's hard to get summer clothes in winter. Of course, I've got last summer's things.”

”I'd feel that I was pretty well fitted out already if I had _your_ last summer's things,” observed Laura.

”I should say as much!” agreed Rhoda. ”The idea of Grace Mason needing a new summer outfit. What's the objection to that lovely crepe de chine that made me green with envy when you wore it last summer?”

”Or that voile with the heliotrope flowers?” supplemented Nan. ”Or the white net with the embroidered flounces?”

”Or that blue taffeta that you looked so stunning in at the garden party?” said Rhoda.

”Or the old rose georgette with the touch of black velvet, to say nothing of half a dozen others?” added Bess.

”Since you are resurrecting the old gowns so vigorously,” laughed Grace, ”I begin to think I may get through without so many new things after all, especially as the old gowns will be new to the people I shall meet at Palm Beach. Of course mother will have a dressmaker, and she'll alter and freshen up and make a few new things. But she can't do such a very great deal in the little time from now to the holidays. If it was any other place than Palm Beach, I wouldn't even think about dress. But it's such a very swell place, you know, girls, and I don't want to feel out of place while I'm there. Of course you know how I feel.”