Dorothy Dainty's Gay Times Part 18

There were two thoughts, two pictures in her mind. She was thinking of Dorothy's first party, when, as a little outcast, she had climbed up into the branches of a tree which overhung the great garden, that thus she might peep at the lovely children in their beautiful frocks; now, as Dorothy's friend and playmate, she had enjoyed this fancy dress party, in a costume as charming as that of any guest.

She was happy now, and how dearly she loved Dorothy, how grateful she was for her home and friends!

For days they talked of nothing but the party, and Aunt Charlotte found it a little difficult to keep them from whispering about it during school hours.

Three little guests who had intended to come, had, at the last moment, been obliged to remain at home. They were Mr. Dainty's nephews, and they had been much disappointed in losing a charming visit in which a fine party was to have been included.

Patricia, with her usual lack of sweetness, told Arabella that she did not believe that those three boys had ever _thought_ of coming.

"Well, anyway, _we_ were there, and we had a fine time, but say,--there _weren't_ two fountains after all!" said Arabella.

"Why, what a thing to say, when I showed you the second one, only it didn't work right," Patricia replied. "The way I turned it made steam, so if I'd only just turned it the _other_ way it would have been water."

"How do you know it would?" Arabella asked in a teasing voice.

"How do you know it _wouldn't_?" Patricia replied, and Arabella chose to make no reply.

After the little happening in the conservatory on the evening of the party, Aunt Matilda spoke plainly to Arabella about her choice of playmates.

"I don't approve of that Lavine girl," she had said.

"You don't know her," ventured Arabella.

"I don't need to," was the curt reply. "A girl that can't go to a party without meddling with things, and getting into mischief, is not the girl that I care to have you with, and there's no reason why you should go to the other end of the town to find a playmate; there are enough pleasant girls in your own school."

Aunt Matilda's words were true, but with Arabella's contrary nature, the fact that her aunt did not approve of Patricia, made her the most desirable of all her playmates.

She at once decided to spend the next Sat.u.r.day with Patricia. She did not dare to ask Patricia to call for her, because Aunt Matilda, if exasperated, might send her home, and Patricia would never overlook that. She had just decided to invite herself to visit Patricia when something happened which delighted her.

It was after school, and they were talking of the coming Sat.u.r.day, and how it should be spent.

"We've not seen you driving your pony for a long time," said Katie Dean.

"We are going out with Romeo on Sat.u.r.day," Dorothy said.

"There's a lovely road where the great icicles hang from the trees like fringe, and the groom says it's the finest road for sleighing in Merrivale."

Patricia had not been to school, and had walked over to meet the pupils of the little private cla.s.s.

"I suppose Nancy's going with you," Patricia said.

"Of course she will," said Katie, "don't you just know that Dorothy wouldn't care for the ride if Nancy weren't with her?"

Katie laughed as she said it, the others joining in the merriment, for it was well known that while Dorothy cared very truly for all her friends, Nancy was the dearest. Patricia knew how handsome Romeo looked in his fine harness, and the trim little sleigh with its soft fur robes made a nice setting for Dorothy and Nancy as they spun over the glistening road. She determined to say something which would impress all who listened.

"I'll invite you to a sleighride with _me_, Arabella," she said, "will you go?"

"Yes, _indeed_," said Arabella, "what time shall I be ready?"

"You be over at my house 'bout two, and we'll go as soon as we want to,"

she said.

Nina looked at Jeanette, and when Patricia had left them she spoke the thought that was in her mind.

"I didn't know Patricia Lavine had a horse and sleigh. Has any one ever seen her driving?" she asked.

"Don't b'lieve she has," said Reginald.

Patricia had offended him that afternoon by calling him a _little_ boy.

"You mustn't say that," said Katie, who, being a year older than her cousin Reginald, felt obliged to reprove him when things that he said were just a little too naughty.

"You just tell me, Katie Dean, do _you_ b'lieve she has?" he asked, but Katie was talking to Mollie, and she chose to let him think that she had not heard his question.

The day set for the two sleighrides was clear and crisp.

Mrs. Dainty and Aunt Charlotte were entertaining each other with exchanging memories of Mrs. Dainty's school-days when with her cla.s.smates she had been as popular as Dorothy now was, and Aunt Charlotte had found it a task to keep them under good discipline without quelling their high spirits.

The fire in the grate flamed higher and crackled merrily, and in the glow the two ladies were enjoying tea, small cakes, and bonbons.

"You may go for a short sleighride, if you wish," Mrs. Dainty said, "if you and Nancy will dress very warmly for the trip. Aunt Charlotte and I have decided to remain here cosily by the fire."

"But Romeo hasn't been out for days, and I don't mind the cold. It'll be just gay out in the crisp air," Dorothy said.

"Then surely you may go if it is to be so very gay," said Mrs. Dainty, laughing, "but remember what I said about wearing warm wraps and furs."

Dorothy promised, and soon, with the groom riding behind them, they were off over the road.

Romeo was as delighted as they, and sped along as if shod with wings, his mane and tail floating gracefully as he almost flew along.

Dorothy and Nancy, nestled in a white fur robe, felt only the frosty touch of the sharp wind upon their cheeks, and they laughed and talked as if it had been a summer day.

On the dry bushes by the roadside great flocks of tiny sparrows hopped from twig to twig, chattering and twittering as they pecked at the little dried berries. A great crow flew out from a bit of woodland, making a noisy protest that any one should drive over the quiet road, and thus disturb his musings.

The icicles were glittering in the sunlight, and the crust sparkled as if powdered with diamond dust, while the rough bark of the trees still held a coating of frost which the sunlight had not been warm enough to melt.

"We'll tell them how beautiful it looked when we get home," said Dorothy, her eyes bright with delight.

"It will take two of us to even _half_ tell it," laughed Nancy.

And while Dorothy and Nancy were gliding rapidly over the frosty highway, Arabella was standing at Patricia's door, ringing the bell, and wondering why no one replied. Then some one came around the corner.

"h.e.l.lo!" she cried. "Ma's gone to spend the afternoon with a friend, and I've just been out to see about our sleigh, so n.o.body heard you ring.

The sleigh'll be here in just a minute; you come up with me and help me bring down some shawls."

Without stopping to question, Arabella followed her up the three flights of stairs, and such an array of shawls as Patricia brought out!

"These sofa cus.h.i.+ons I'll throw downstairs, and we can pick them up afterwards," she said.