The Chronicles of Rhoda

cried, in consternation. "Only that wh

ndmother said, decisively

a tuck, mother!"

me to a party! I was not quite sure what people did at a party; but I knew it must be something delightful, judging from the commotion the pink envelope made in the fa

"This is what they do at a par

ul me around. This was a serious matter,

ie May exclaimed, ruefully. "Who wou

mother replied, with a cold smile. "The Harcourts

wry face. She was

consolately. "Let yourself go. There, I believe th

I copied her courtesies, and followed her steps, and when, at length, she fell br

u going, too?" I as

e rather nice to have Auntie

grand air, "it's a childr

ge, though, how sometimes Auntie May would play with my dolls, and sometimes she would tuck up her

hat made her look almost young again. Whenever she looked her youngest, she was greatly pleased, and curled her hair triumphantly. At family meetings the two grandmothers often made those curls the subject for discussion, and oftener still it was my dress and manners which never seemed to suit ei

ed seriously to the idea of that tuck. She seemed to think that I should look very shabby among the other

e buy Rhoda a suitable dress. You surely don't want that u

ve had it all arranged beforehand, for, after a rather appealing lo

dream going down the stairs while the twins, in their nightgowns, peeped after me, and it was a dream getting into the carriage which Auntie May had brought to take me. The very streets were a dream, with little white-clad girls passing in our direction and little boys, with

visiting her," Auntie May said, peering out of the carriage window. "The

beside him, and an elegant cane with a silver head to which he seemed much attached. I never noticed little boys as a rule. I divided them into two classes: boys who walked clumsily, in heavy boots, and glanced sidewise at me, and bad boys who made awful faces from behind trees. Never to one of them had I said

cried, unguardedly, remembering

whole minute, just

g that is nice about it. It has real lace basted in the neck. Mother put it in. Just fancy, grandmother Harcourt never noticed! Always give your right hand first in the ladies' chain. You are the onl

think that I'm in chur

arriage drove away, "there's the other s

in, or if I would have to say what my name was. I was not real sure in my mind that I knew what my name was. Once, years ago, I had been called Rhod

em, were taking off their hats, and shaking out their skirts, and doing what grandmother called "prinking" before a great glass. I prinked a little myself, following out Auntie May's directions. I thought that I looked rather nice. A wom

ling, and I could not see a thing for a mist before my eyes. I went qu

d a boy's voice cried, "Here

. Little by little the mist cleared from befo

in corners and laughed among themselves. There were lights on the walls and flowers everywhere, and the few grown-up people who moved about seemed just as gay and festive as the children. By the door were stationed Theodore Otway a

rst that a boy, whom I had never seen before, was writing his

he said. "Maybe, after awhile, I'll dance wit

answered

ntinued, patronizingl

in a bash

ller 'Rhoda' you come where I am. That will

I said

ht take some other girl," he

y, led by a lady. She was

ousin!" I heard her cry. "I told you yesterday that y

glance as he went to th

nt out in the hall to get a drink of lemonade. He unbuttoned his jacket, and tried to make himself look different by crossing his eyes. I was sure that he di

ard some one

was behind my chair, where he

h there was a look of elation about him. "If you don't hurr

find him again, but I felt an inward conv

every time. I did not forget a single thing! The music was very lively, and everybody was smiling, even the grown-up people at the other end of the room who danced and romped among themselves. I thought that

ce." It began by a little girl leaving the room, mysteriously,

r Davie Williams," she cried, in a shri

grew very red in the face, but he went out for hi

er for me! More little girls went out, and more little boys. The girls tossed their heads, and the boys went quickly, as though to get it over. One boy called ou

r me with his han

said, in a d

ered, shyly fin

as nothing, only the hall and Theodore Otway still with his hands in his po

church," he

ded a

I confessed, with

ep nearer, a

don't live in this

swered, in

replied,

m to be anything more to talk about. S

he knob. Evidently

out to supper?" he aske

know," I

You'd better. There's a boy here

Was it the

cry out loud at a party! You

r. He put out his hand

!" he cried, with a

at him. Nobody had ev

e begged, in

ed, hiding my fa

knob again. They we

in a hurried way. His han

ye," I

rned again, as if he had forgott

he asked, pointing to a w

the front of his coat. He strutted a little as he went int

room a nice little fairhaired boy named Eddie was watching me, wistfully. I called Eddie, with sudden fearlessness. He came with a rush, and closed the door behind him. Then he kissed me before I could say

he cried, eagerly. "What

w," I answer

n he pulled out a fat, white lozenge fr

hat," he said

vor. It looked like medicine. Still I did not wa

ey are good for sore throat. My father

wered, with

be kind, and, perhaps, after all the lozeng

o little boys were sliding in a corner. There was talk of supper. Somebody, peeking through a keyhole, had seen pink ice-cream, and had come away dazzled. T

terwards, with a

you out to supper. I have to

ver his shoulder

a man things will be different. Ain

confessed

e glad that I

continued, with a jealous nod at

be a trick! Suppose that he should think of something new to do right now! When the inspiring march began, however, and we al

e cap, who was the only grown person in sight, was serving out pink ice-cream. The little girls sat on chairs about the walls, and the little boys brought them plates full of goodies fro

he had seen me settled in my chair. "I tell you wha

a perfect pyramid of candy in his hand. I knew that I could never eat it all, no, not a half. Somehow he did not seem able to find me afterwards. I beckoned to him, but still he turned aside, an

over on the floor, and sit on him. He seemed to be very angry. He pounded the stout boy. I was almost

ging her hands. "Oh, Master Theodore!

here the older people were having their supper, there

stonishment, looking as if she coul

he arm, and dragged

y to treat your company! I'm going

looked at one another in horror. To be p

klessly, with tears in his eyes. "I'd

hand in his. Somehow I d

pper," a chorus of eager little boys

He dusted off his knees, and looked around the incredulous circle. "I tell yo

en I, for had I not seen hi

tway said, laughingly. "Come. You can

stood around to watch me eat, and gave me presents. One gave me his jackknife, and one gave me a penny which he had brightened to gold by rubbing it on the carpet. When we went back in the parlor there were

ore good-bye

hand. "I'm coming back when I'm a man. Then we'll get married, and li

answered,

ious moment. Our heads we

ow too tall,"

lf-way to the door, when he

whispered, ardently, "you wri

teful smile. I k

lled along, but when, at last, we reached home

sly, in a voice divided between awe and delight. "Ten little boys! Just f

a tender hand an

he party, Rhoda?" she asked, eager

y circle. They were all watching me

w," I answer

, nodding her head triumphantly. "Of cour

le brass ring. I felt th