Part 12 (1/2)
The little lady paused and blinked her eyes mysteriously.
”And what, dearest Cousin?” cried Billie.
”Oh, do tell us, Miss Campbell,” exclaimed the others.
”Tell you what, my dears?”
”Why are we to put on our best evening dresses?”
”Don't you like to dress up?” she asked mischievously.
”Of course,” exclaimed Nancy.
”Cousin Helen, you're a naughty little tease,” cried Billie. ”You have been keeping a secret from us all this long time.”
Miss Campbell's peach-blossom face became inscrutable and her deep blue eyes widened innocently.
”Is there going to be a surprise?” asked little Mary in her sweet high voice.
”Is that what the note was that came not long ago?” demanded Elinor.
”I knew you had something on your mind,” put in Billie. ”I can always tell.”
”It must be a perfectly delightful secret,” observed Nancy, ”because we are to wear our best clothes.”
”But what is it?” they demanded, dancing around the charming little woman in an ecstasy of curiosity.
”If I told you, my dears, you wouldn't get a wink of sleep for excitement.”
”But we are just as excited from not knowing,” cried Billie.
”Perhaps it's tickets to the opera,” guessed Elinor, her thoughts always on music.
”It must be a dinner party,” said Nancy.
”Or a theater party.”
”We are not going to meet the Queen?” asked Mary innocently.
This was too much for the gravity of the other girls and for Miss Campbell, too, who loved a good laugh, and the room was filled with merriment.
”No, dear, we're not going to meet the Queen, at least not yet,” said Miss Campbell, kissing Mary's quiet, gentle face.
”Is it to be a party?”
”Of course. Else why wear your very best frocks?”
”But a big party?”
”No, a small one.”