Part 47 (2/2)
”Suppose it is because she will be with us so soon.”
”DEAREST GIRLS:--
”This is a joint letter to-day. I am so busy with exams this week that I can't do much letter writing. The tests have been something awful. The girls say they grow stiffer all the time--- but no matter! I daresay you have troubles in this line of your own.
”I have the pleasure to inform you, girls, that Uncle Cliff will be in Boston the first day of April, and that he has written me to invite the We Are Sevens to be his guests at the Copley Plaza for three days, beginning on that date. This means that we shall all return to Woodford together for the rest of my vacation. I hope nothing will prevent your acceptance. Grandmother and Aunt Lucinda have been included in the invitation, so you will be well chaperoned. Please answer as soon as possible, so that Uncle Cliff can make his reservations at the hotel. I know that we are going to have a splendid time. Bring your prettiest clothes, as there will be something doing every minute. I can hardly wait to see you all, and to have the 'Lambs' meet you.
”Hoping to hear from you very soon, ”I am, ever with dearest love, ”BLUE BONNET.”
There was an instant's silence after Kitty stopped reading, and then everybody broke forth at once.
”At the Copley Plaza! For three days! To visit Blue Bonnet!”
”Isn't it a blessing that our vacation begins on the first, too?” Debby said. ”There ought not to be a thing to hinder our going.”
”Nothing but--just one thing, Debby. It takes a lot of pretty clothes to stay in a place like the Copley Plaza. And those 'Lambs!' Blue Bonnet says they dress beautifully. Now, what have we got to wear in a crowd like that?”
”If they're going to like us just for our clothes, Kitty!” protested Amanda. ”Besides, you have that new blue voile; you're a dream in it; and Sarah has her wine-colored henrietta. Maybe the rest of us could sc.r.a.pe up something; there's--let's see, four or five days yet.”
”Maybe we could get something in Boston,” Debby suggested. ”Blue Bonnet says they have wonderful bargains. You know she got all her clothes for school ready made, and they were as stylish as could be.”
”Perhaps we could; that's an idea, Debby,” Kitty remarked thankfully.
”It's time for spring clothes anyway. We shouldn't want Blue Bonnet to be ashamed of us.”
Debby scoffed.
”Blue Bonnet wouldn't be ashamed of us--no matter what we wear. She's not that kind.”
”But she'd like to be proud of us, nevertheless. Those 'Lambs' come from awfully rich families; they must, or they couldn't be in that school. It costs a small fortune to go there.”
”Blue Bonnet says they are not a bit airy, though, Kitty; and you hardly ever hear a word about money. Blue Bonnet says Miss North is a regular stickler for simplicity, and that she's forever telling the girls where to place values in this world.”
”Where does she place them--these values? What are values anyway?”
It was Sarah's turn to speak up quietly.
”I believe I know,” she said. ”That's one of father's hobbies. It means getting a true estimate of life. We should value things that are worth while, like education and refinement, honesty and courage. It's very vulgar to put value on money; gentle birth and good breeding count for much more.”
”I guess our grandsires could measure up with anybody's,” Amanda said proudly. ”We're every one eligible to the Daughters of the Revolution.”
”What's the matter with the We Are Sevens?” Kitty shouted, and the rest took up the cry:
”Who's all right? We're all right!”
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