She promised Helen that she would go over and pet Mr. Smith, the
cat, occasionally, that he might not feel her absence too deeply, and
Aunt Zelie told her to help herself to all the flowers she wanted.
Uncle William sent her half a dozen new books, and the girls and Carl
promised to write often.
The boys felt themselves to be most important members of society as
the time for leaving drew near, for they were petted and feasted and
made much of generally.
Aunt Marcia gave them an elegant dinner; Elsie had a fete in their
honor; but best of all was the farewell tea-party at Miss Brown's the
evening before they left, to which only the ten were invited.
It would be impossible to tell of all the fun they had, and how Mary
actually came so near laughing at some of the nonsense that she had
to beat a hasty retreat to the kitchen to save her dignity.
They drank the health of the departing members in lemonade, and then
Ikey proposed "the Lady of the Brown House, who has been altogether
jolly, though we did begin by breaking her window."
This was received with great applause, and Aleck said, "You must make
a speech, Miss Brown."
"I am afraid I shall not be equal to the occasion," she answered; "but
I must say that I have always been glad of that broken window.
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