Part 14 (1/2)
”If I am invited?”
”Then I invite you now. You need not say you got my invitation before the others were out--but be sure to come!”
CHAPTER X
A LAWN PARTY ”WITH BOYS!”
The day was perfect--an item of much importance where lawn parties are concerned. Dorothy and Tavia were kept in ignorance of the testimonial that had been arranged in their honor, and were now, at one hour before the appointed time, dressing for an afternoon with Alice. Ned and Nat were to go with them and then--
”I am going to dress in my brand new challie,” Tavia announced to Dorothy, as she left for that operation. ”I'll show Miss Cuc.u.mber what I can look like when I do dress up.”
”I'll wear my cadet blue linen,” said Dorothy, ”I think that such a pretty dress.”
”Splendiferous!” agreed Tavia, ”and so immensely becoming. Well, let us get there on time. I am just dying to say things at, not to, Miss Cuke.”
”Tavia!” but that young lady was out of reach of the admonition Dorothy was wont to administer. The Green Violet, the Green Vegetable and all the other Greens seemed sufficiently abusive to Dorothy, but she was determined not to tolerate the latest epithet Tavia had coined to take the place of that name--Viola Green.
”Of course,” admitted Dorothy, reflecting upon Tavia's new word, ”Viola does seem sour, and her name is Green, but that is no reason why we should make an enemy of her. She might make it very unpleasant at Glenwood School.”
Ned and Nat arrived just as Dorothy finished dressing. They had been invited over the telephone by Alice, who, in taking them into the lawn party plot, had arranged that they bring Dorothy and Tavia ostensibly to spend the afternoon with her.
Scarcely had the cousins' greeting been exchanged when Tavia made her appearance. She did look well in the new challie--one of the school dresses so lately acquired through Mrs. White's good management.
”We had better go at once,” said Ned, after speaking a word to Tavia.
”I am really anxious to become better acquainted with Miss Alice. She seems such a jolly girl.”
”And as good as gold!” declared Dorothy warmly. ”We all just love Alice!”
”I am sure you do. I would to--if I had a chance,” joked Ned.
Along the road Tavia was with Nat as usual, trying to find some heretofore unfound item of interest in reviewing the ride in the police wagon. But concerning the interference of the stranger, Viola Green, Tavia was silent. Nat might say something that would spoil Tavia's idea of the joke on Viola.
Reaching the MacAllister gate both boys wondered that no sign of the festivities were apparent. Even upon the very threshold of the stately old mansion not a sound betrayed the expected lawn party. Alice answered the ring and, with a pleasant greeting, showed the company into the reception room, then, as she drew back the portiers opening up the long parlor there was a wild shout:
”Surprise! Surprise on Dorothy! Surprise on Tavia!” And the next moment there was such an ”outpouring,” as Tavia termed the hilarity, that neither Dorothy nor Tavia could find herself, so tangled had each one become with all the others in their joyous enthusiasm.
It was a complete surprise. This fact made the affair especially enjoyable--girls do love to keep secrets in spite of all proverbial statements to the contrary.
”Didn't you even guess?” quizzed May Egner, addressing Dorothy.
”Never suspected a thing,” declared Dorothy, as she finally managed to make her way to a cozy little seat in the arch, and there ensconced, began a pleasant chat with May Egner.
”Nettie is responsible for the boys,” May began. ”She was a committee of one on them. But she declares she never invited that Tom Burbank, see him over there with Viola? And Alice is a little put out about it.
He is a stranger, you know, and none of the boys seem to take him up.”
”I am glad there are boys here,” remarked Dorothy, looking pleasantly about the room and noting how well the Dalton boys had turned out, and what a really good-looking set they were. ”But surely someone must have invited Tom Burbank.”
”I suspect Viola,” whispered May. ”She seems to have something private to say to him and insists no one else shall hear it. Just see where they are.”