And having given the order, Uncle Jeff stalked away.
CHAPTER IX
FINE FEATHERS
"Isn"t he the funniest and the very dearest old thing in the world!"
said Alicia, in a whisper, as Mr. Forbes disappeared. "I"ve got loads of clothes, but I"m glad to have him give me a dress, for I"ll warrant it"ll be about the best money can buy."
"Let"s get the best New York can show us," chimed in Bernice.
"I can"t do it," said Dolly, decidedly. "My mother wouldn"t like me to accept a dress from Mr. Forbes."
"Oh, fiddlesticks, Dollyrinda!" said Dotty, "it"s not charity. My mother wouldn"t let me either, ordinarily speaking, but this is different."
"How is it different?"
"Why, Mr. Forbes doesn"t look on it as giving as clothes because we"re poor--"
"He does so, Dot! You can"t fool me! He knows that Alicia and Bernie can afford grand clothes and we can"t, and so he gives us each a dress to make it easy for us to take them."
Now, Alicia privately thought this was just about the truth, but Bernice thought differently; "Rubbish!" she cried. "Uncle Jeff doesn"t think anything of the sort! He"s so kind-hearted, he wants us all to have things nice, and he doesn"t even think about whether it would hurt our feelings or not. Why, Dolly, the price of a dress is no more to him, than a gla.s.s of soda water would be to us."
"I know that"s so," and Dolly"s blue eyes looked very troubled, "but it isn"t nice to take clothing from anybody but your own people."
"But Dolly," argued Alicia, "if you kick up a bobbery, and refuse to take this kind offer, then we"ll all have to do the same, and you deprive us all of the pretty presents."
"Oh, Alicia, I"d be sorry to do that!"
"Well, that"s what it would amount to. Now, be sensible, and go with us to-morrow, and we"ll all get lovely dresses, and it will please Uncle Jeff. I know he"d be hurt and offended, if you refused, Dolly."
"I"ll see about it; I"ll think it over," and that was all Dolly would say about it then.
But next morning, Mrs. Berry informed them that they were asked to an At Home at Mrs. Brown"s that afternoon, from four till seven, and she further said that of her knowledge, it would be an occasion where the nicest possible apparel would be required.
"Gorgeous!" cried Alicia; "Uncle Jeff told us yesterday, we could get new frocks as presents from him. We can get them at Follansbee"s, and if they need alteration, they"ll do it for us at once, as the case is so especial."
Dolly"s objections were overruled, even Mrs. Berry siding with the other girls.
"Yes, indeed, Dolly," she said; "you will spoil the pleasure of the others if you refuse to do as they do. And it would grieve Mr. Forbes if he thought you didn"t appreciate or accept his kind offer. Run along, girls, all of you, and get your hats and coats, the car will be here in a few minutes."
"Won"t you go with us, Mrs. Berry," asked Dolly, "to help pick them out? We don"t know about these things as well as some one who lives in the city."
"No, dearies. But you won"t have any trouble Just ask for Mrs. Baxter at Follansbee"s and her judgment will be the right thing. Be sure to take what she advises. She"ll know."
In gay spirits the quartette started off, Dolly joining in the general enthusiasm, for having decided to do as the others did, she had no wish to hesitate further.
Mrs. Baxter was more than pleased to advise and suggest to Jefferson Forbes" relatives, and she had her a.s.sistants bring out dozens of frocks for inspection.
At last, after much discussion and trying on, the four were selected and were promised for two o"clock that afternoon. What slight alterations were necessary could be done in that time, and there would be no doubt of prompt delivery.
The dresses were absolutely unlike any the girls had ever owned before.
They were all imported models, and though of finest materials, were simple in fabric and design. Yet they had an air and an effect never achieved by a village dressmaker or a department store.
Dolly"s was of fine white net, frilled with delicate lace, and adorned with tiny rosebud garlands, and knots of pale blue velvet.
Dotty"s, of apricot pink crepe, with hints of silver lace peeping through its chiffon draperies. Alicia"s was corn-coloured crepe de chine with cherry velvet decorations, and Bernice rejoiced in a white embroidered net, made up over green silk.
All had that indefinable charm which betokens the genius of a great modiste, and the girls were enchanted with the wonderful robes.
"But what awful prices!" said Dolly, as they drove away from the shop.
"I"m sure mother will be displeased. I feel awfully about it."
"Now, Doll," said Dotty, sensibly, "you can"t help it now. So don"t let it spoil your pleasure and ours too. When we get home you can tell your mother just how it was. I"ll tell her too, and I"m sure she"ll see that you couldn"t do anything else than get the frock, or kick up a terrible bobbery!"
This was common sense, as Dotty"s remarks often were, so Dolly accepted the situation, and made the best of it.
And that afternoon, when they were all arrayed in the new frocks, and presented themselves to Uncle Jeff for inspection, his approval was so hearty, that Dolly was very glad she hadn"t put a damper on the whole thing by remaining obstinate.
"You are visions of beauty," he declared, as he looked at each in turn.
"Madame Who-ever-it-was, turned you out remarkably well. I don"t know much about feminine millinery, but I"ve a general idea of the fitness of things. And I"ll bet a thousand dollars that these affairs are in better taste than the rigs you had on yesterday, though those were far gayer."
"You do know a lot about it, Uncle," said Bernice. "These are way ahead of our best dresses, but it"s because they came from a high cla.s.s shop.
And when you get the bill you"ll open your eyes!"
"That"s all right, Bernie. I"m an old bachelor, you know, and never before have I had the privilege of buying dresses for anybody. I"m downright glad if you girls are pleased with these, and I"m downright proud of the little cavalcade setting forth from my house."
The courteous old gentleman made a profound bow and the girls curtseyed in response. Then off they went to the party.
As Mrs. Berry had foretold, fine clothes were the order of the day at the Brown house. Everything was as formal as a grown-up affair. The girls were ushered to a dressing-room to take off their wraps, and then at the drawing-room door, their names were announced by an imposing-looking personage in livery, and they were swept along into the room, by the crush of others behind them.
Mrs. Brown and her daughter were receiving, and they greeted each arrival with gay banter and smiles.
"Ah, my dears, how do you do?" said Mrs. Brown to our girls. "I am so glad to welcome Mr. Forbes" young people. Muriel, dear, these are the girls daddy told you about last night. "Member?"
""Course I do. Aw"fly jolly to have you here. Sweet of you to come.
Wish I could chin-chin more, but I"ll see you after the rush is over."
They pa.s.sed in line, saying scarce a word beyond a mere greeting, and following the example of their predecessors they took seats in what seemed to be a large auditorium. A curtained stage faced them, and they looked about at the fast gathering audience. It was a merry crowd of young people all laughing and chattering, and all arrayed in beautiful clothes after the order of those the girls wore themselves. There were many boys present, too, and they moved easily about, joking with their friends here and there. Presently two boys drifted toward our quartette, and one of them said, "What"ll be the show, do you know?"
"No," said Dotty, her black eyes dancing with the excitement of the scene; "what do you guess?"
"Dunno. Last time they had minstrels, and the time before, a magicker."
"Legerdemain?"