chopped nuts, and another portion and mix in some raisins, by no means met the requirements of the case. This Patty learned from remarks made by the visitors, and also from Miss Aurora’s own delicately veiled intimations that each of her fourteen kinds was a totally different and distinct recipe.
Patty couldn’t help wondering what would become of all this cake, for after all, the guests could eat but a small portion of it.
And it occurred to her also that the ways of the people in previous generations, as exemplified in Miss Bender’s customs, seemed to show quite as great a lack of a sense of proportion as many of our so-called modern absurdities.
After supper the guests immediately departed for their homes. Carriages arrived for the different ones, and they went away, after volubly expressing to their hostess their thanks for her delightful entertainment.
The girls expected Winthrop and Roger to come for them in the motor-car, but they had not told them to come quite so early as now seemed necessary. In some embarrassment, they told Miss Bender that they would have to trespass on her hospitality for perhaps an hour longer.
“My land o’ goodness!” she exclaimed, looking at them in dismay, “why I’ve got to set this house to rights, and I can’t wait an hour to begin!”
“Don’t mind us, Miss Bender,” said Bertha. “Just shut us up in some room by ourselves, and we’ll stay there, and not bother you a bit; unless perhaps we can help you?”
“Help me! No, indeed. There can’t anybody help me when I’m clearin’ up after a quiltin’, unless it’s somebody that knows my ways. But I’d like to amuse you children, somehow. I’ll tell you what, you can go up in the front bedroom, if you like, and there’s a chest of old-fashioned clothes there. Can’t you play at dressin’ up?”
“Yes, indeed,” cried Bertha. “Just the thing! Give us some candles.”
Provided with two candles apiece, the girls followed Miss Aurora to a large bedroom on the second floor, which also boasted its carved four-poster and chintz draperies.
“There,” said Miss Aurora, throwing open a great chest, “you ought to get some fun out of trying on those fol-de-rols, and peacocking around; but don’t come downstairs to show off to me, for you’ll only bother me out of my wits. I’ll let you know when your folks come for you.”
Miss Bender trotted away, and the girls, quite ready for a lark, tossed over the quaint old gowns.
Beautiful costumes were there, of the period of about a hundred years ago. Lustrous silks and dainty dimities; embroidered muslins and heavy velvets; Patty had never seen such a sight. After looking them over, the girls picked out the ones they preferred, and taking off their own frocks proceeded to try them on.
Bertha had chosen a blue and white silk of a bayadere stripe, with lace ruffles at the neck and wrists and a skirt of voluminous fulness. Elise wore a white Empire gown that made her look exactly like the Empress Josephine, while Patty arrayed herself in a flowered silk of Dresden effect with a pointed bodice, square neck, and elbow sleeves with lace frills.
In great glee, the girls pranced around, regretting there was no one to whom they might exhibit their masquerade costumes. But Miss Bender had been so positive in her orders that they dared not go downstairs.
Suddenly they heard the toot of an automobile.
“That’s our car,” cried Bertha. “I know the horn. Let’s go down just as we are, for the benefit of Winthrop and Roger.”
In answer to Miss Bender’s call from below, the girls trooped downstairs, and merrily presented themselves for inspection.
Mr. Phelps had come with the others, and if the young men were pleased at the picture the three girls presented, Miss Aurora herself was no less so.
“My,” she said, “you do look fine, I declare! Now, I’ll tell you what I’ll do; I’ll make each of you young ladies a present of the gown you have on, if you care to keep it. I’ll never miss them, for I have trunks and chests full, besides those you saw, and I’m right down glad to give them to you. You can wear them sometimes at your fancy dress parties.”
The girls were overjoyed at Miss Bender’s gift, and Bertha declared they would wear them home, and she would send over for their other dresses the next day.
So, donning their wraps, the merry modern maids in their antique garb made their adieus to Miss Aurora, and were soon in the big motor-car speeding for home.
Chapter XVII.
A Summer Christmas
Although they had intended to stay but a fortnight, Patty and Elise remained with the Warners all through the month of June, and even then Bertha begged them to stay longer.
But the day for their departure was set in the first week of July, and Bertha declared that they must have a big party of some kind as their last entertainment for the girls.
So Mrs. Warner invited a number of young people for a house party during the last few days of Patty’s stay.
“I wish,” said Bertha, a few days before the Fourth, “that we could have some kind of a party on the Fourth of July that would be different from just an ordinary party.”
“Have an automobile party,” suggested Roger, who was present.
“I don’t mean that kind,” said Bertha, “I mean a party in the house, but something that would be fun. There isn’t anything to do on Fourth of July except have fireworks, and that isn’t much fun.”
“I’ll tell you what,” said Mr. Phelps, who was at Pine Branches on one of his flying visits, “have a Christmas party.”
“A Christmas party on Fourth of July!” exclaimed Bertha, “that’s just the thing! Mr. Phelps, you’re a real genius. That’s just what we’ll do, and we’ll have a Christmas tree, and give each other gifts and everything.”
“Great!” said Roger, “and we’ll have a Yule log blazing, and we’ll all wear our fur coats.”
“No, not that,” said Bertha, laughing, “we’d melt. But we’ll have all the Christmas effects that we can think of, and each one must help.”
The crowd of merry young people who were gathered at Pine Branches eagerly fell in with Bertha’s plan, and each began to make preparations for the festival.
The girls made gifts which they carefully kept secret from the ones for whom they were intended, and many trips were made to the village for materials.
The boys also had many mysterious errands, and Mr. and Mrs. Warner, who entered heartily into the spirit of the fun, were frequently consulted under strict bonds of confidence.
Fourth of July came and proved to be a warm, though not a sultry summer day.
Invitations had been sent out, and a large party of young people were expected in the evening; and during the day those who were staying at Pine Branches found plenty to do by way of preparation.
A large Christmas tree had been cut down, and was brought into the library. As soon as it was set up, the work of decoration began, and it was hung with strings of popcorn, and tinsel filigree which Mrs. Warner had saved from previous Christmas trees. Dozens of candles too, were put on the branches, to be lighted at night.
The boys brought in great boughs of evergreen, and cut them up, while the girls made ropes and wreaths and stars, with which to adorn the room.
Mr. Phelps had sent to New York for a large boxful of artificial holly, and this added greatly to the Christmas effect.
Patty was in her element helping with these arrangements, for she dearly loved to make believe, and the