"I know mine," said Alicia, "it is to go to Muriel Brown"s party on Friday night. She asked us, and I"d love to go."
"That"s one," said her uncle. "Of course you can all go to the party.
Now, Bernice, what do you choose?"
"I"d like to go to the opera," said Bernice. "Grand opera, I mean. I"ve never been but once, and I"d love to go."
"Good! We"ll go to-night. If you all agree?"
They certainly did agree to that, and then Mr. Forbes asked the two D"s to choose.
"I want to go to the Metropolitan Museum,--with you!" said Dolly, half afraid to ask such a boon. But Mr. Forbes seemed pleased, and declared he would be delighted to go with her, and explain the exhibits and the others could go or not, as they liked. All decided in favour of going, and then Dotty was asked to choose.
"Don"t laugh at me," said Dotty, "but I"d like to have a party. Only, not a big one. Just us four girls, and the four boys, that we know the best; Geordie, Ted, Marly Turner and Sam Graves. I like that sort of a party better than the big, dressy ones."
"Why, Dot Rose!" exclaimed Alicia, "I thought you liked the big dances."
"So I do, if I knew the people. But I think it would be lots of fun to have a few, and have a less formal party. I"d like to ask Muriel Brown, and two or three of those girls we met with her, the other day, and then, have a few more boys; but not a hundred, like Muriel had."
"A good plan," said Mr. Forbes, "because you couldn"t invite a large party on such short notice. So, make out your list, Dotty, and invite them by telephone at once. Mrs. Berry will help you, and will arrange all details. Let me see, you can have that party to-morrow night; go to the opera to-night; go to Muriel"s party on Friday night, and go home on Sat.u.r.day. The museum we can visit any afternoon. I thank you for your kind attention."
"Oh, Uncle Jeff, we thank YOU for your kindness, all of it," cried Alicia. "You have been so very good to us, and now you are doing a lot more for our pleasure."
"Have you enjoyed it all, so far, Alicia?" and her uncle looked at her inquiringly.
"Oh, yes, sir, indeed I have! I was troubled about the lost earring, but that was not your fault."
"Nor the fault of any of you girls," said Mr. Forbes. "As I have hinted to you, I have a reason for this visit you are making me, beside a desire to give you pleasure. I am considering a serious matter and this stay of yours in my house is helping me to a decision."
"What can it be, Uncle?" cried Bernice. "Tell us, so we can help you more, and more intelligently."
"I will tell you Sat.u.r.day morning," he returned with a smile. "Perhaps in that time other developments may occur that will alter my final decision in the matter."
"It sounds most mysterious," laughed Dolly, "can"t we guess what it"s all about?"
"You may guess, if you like, but I don"t promise to tell you if you guess correctly. And I don"t mind adding, that I feel pretty sure you couldn"t guess correctly, if you tried!"
"No use trying, then!" said Alicia, gaily. "Oh, I"m so glad we"re going to stay longer. I want to do a lot of things beside the celebrations we"ve just planned. I do think you"re the best and kindest uncle in the whole world! I"ve got a secret, too, and some day I"m going to tell it to you all."
"Secrets seem to be the order of the day," laughed Dolly; "we"ll have to sc.r.a.pe up one, Dot."
"Well, it"s no secret that we"re having one grand, glorious, good time!" said Dotty. "What"s on for this morning?"
Mr. Forbes went off to his own room then, and the girls planned out all they should do for the rest of their stay in the city.
There was some shopping, some sight-seeing and some errands yet undone but they at last agreed on a programme that would suit everybody.
Dotty"s party, as they called it, took place on Thursday night, and she had her way about having it a small gathering. There were about twenty in all, and according to Dotty"s wishes it was not only a dancing party. There were games as well as dances, for Dotty loved games.
Some of the city young people were at first inclined to laugh at the idea of games, but when they began to take part in these that Dotty had planned they became exceedingly interested.
One was an "Observation Test," up in Mr. Forbes" museum.
At Dotty"s request, he had allowed the collection rooms to be opened to the guests, and this very special dispensation was so appreciated by all that they were most exceedingly careful not to handle the rare specimens or touch the exhibits.
This state of things lent itself beautifully to the game. Each player was asked to walk about for half an hour and look at the curios and treasures, and at the expiration of the time, to return to the drawing room, and spend ten minutes writing down the names of such objects as could be remembered.
This game, most of them had played before, with a table full of less interesting exhibits. But in the wonderful museum rooms of Mr. Forbes it was quite another story.
So eagerly did the young people observe and examine the things, that the half hour allotted for that purpose slipped away all too soon.
And then they sat down to write their lists, and that too proved an absorbing occupation.
Our four girls wrote lists, just for fun, but did not compete for the prizes, as, knowing the exhibit so well, that would not have been fair.
Muriel Brown took the first prize, and the hostesses were glad of it for it was pleasant to have Muriel so honoured.
The prize was a gold penholder, and the boys" prize, which Marly Turner won, was a similar gift.
After it was over, another game was played. This was ribbon cutting.
Girls and boys, stood at either end of the long drawing-room. To each girl was given the end of a piece of long, narrow ribbon, and a pair of scissors. The other end of each ribbon was held by a boy, who likewise had a pair of scissors.
At a signal, each player started cutting the ribbon straight through the middle. If the scissors slipped and cut through the selvage, the player was out of the game. It was not easy, for the ribbon was narrow, and there was a strong impulse to hurry, which made for crooked cutting. The middle of each piece of ribbon was marked by a knot, and whoever reached the knot first, was the winner of that pair. The one who finished first of all, received a special prize.
The game caused great laughter and sport, and the city young people declared they enjoyed it quite as much as dancing.
Then the feast was served, and very beautiful and elaborate it was. The celebration, Mr. Forbes had said, was to be especially for the two D"s, as it was Dotty"s choice, and Dolly"s choice of a visit to the museum provided little opportunity for gaiety.
The table showed two great floral D"s, one at either end. Dotty"s was made of red roses, and Dolly"s of pink roses. Every guest had as a souvenir, some pretty and valuable little trinket, and at every place was a small D made of flowers.
Cakes, ices, jellies, and all such things as could be so shaped, were cut in the form of D"s, and our two girls felt greatly honoured to see their initial so prominently and beautifully displayed.
In the centre of the table was a huge French Doll, of the finest type.
It was dressed in silk covered with polka dots, and its hat and parasol were of silk to match.
Everybody laughed when Mr. Forbes pointed out that it was Dotty Dolly!
And all agreed it was a most clever and appropriate symbol.
After supper there was dancing, and a fine orchestra furnished the music. Our girls liked dancing pretty well, but often they sat out a dance talking to one or another of their guests.
Once, as Dolly pa.s.sed along the hall, chatting with Geordie Knapp, they heard rather loud voices behind the closed door of the little reception room.
Rather surprised that the door should be shut at all, that evening, Dolly paused involuntarily, and Geordie stood by her side. They had no intention of eavesdropping; indeed, Geordie thought perhaps some new game was about to be announced.
But to Dolly"s amazement, she heard Alicia"s voice saying, "Oh, I cannot! I dare not!"
The tones were quivering with emotion, and Dolly couldn"t help listening for the next words. She feared Alicia was troubled about something; indeed, she didn"t know what she feared.
And, next came a voice that was unmistakably; Marly Turner"s, saying, "Do, dear! Oh, TRUST me,--_I_ will take care of you!"