Dora forgot her dress as they went up the steps and were ushered into
the brilliantly lighted hall.
They were the first arrivals, for the Hazeltine children were to
assist in receiving the others, so when they came downstairs there
were only Aunt Marcia, handsome and stately as usual, and Cousin
Helen, looking exceedingly pretty in her pale-blue gown. The next
comer was a tall gentleman whom Bess and Louise seemed to know very
well. They called him Mr. Caruth, and were evidently delighted to see
him.
"I am glad you came home in time for the party," Louise said to him;
and Carl with an eye to business added, "You must come to our
entertainment on New Year's eve, Mr. Caruth."
"What do you charge for reserved seats?" asked the gentleman,
laughing.
"Suppose we give him an arm-chair and make him pay a dollar for it,"
suggested Miss Hazeltine.
"He is a very nice man," Bess whispered to Dora. "We wish he would
marry Cousin Helen, for then he would be related to us."
"Upon my word!" Miss Hazeltine exclaimed, so suddenly that Bess gave a
guilty start, "I have forgotten my office; come here and be decorated
before any more arrive." From a basket she took a handful of badges.
"What are these for?" Louise asked as her cousin pinned one on her
shoulder.
Pages:
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131