"You-are-the-nicest-boy-I-know, And-this-is-just-to-tell-you-so."
He recovered himself instantly, however, and wagging his handsome little head at her, exclaimed emphatically:
"Girl, _girl_, don't you see, I meant girl! It's pleposterous to think I meant boy, cause you ain't one, don't you see. Mottoes is awful foolish, anyway. Come over in the hall and see the gol'-fishes swimmin' in the 'quarium,"--and off they ran together, as happy as birds.
Then came a dance--the Lancers. Two thirds of the young company, including Don and Dorry, attended the village dancing-school; and one and all "just doted on the Lancers," as Josie Manning said. Uncle George, knowing this, had surprised the D's by secretly engaging two players,--for piano-forte and violin,--and their well-marked time and spirited playing put added life into even the lithe young forms that flitted through the rooms. Charity looked on in rapt delight, the more so as kind Sailor Jack already had carried the sleepy and warmly bundled Isabel home to her mother.
One or two more dances brought this amusement to an end, and then, after a few moments of rest came a startling and mysterious order to prepare for the
"What in the world is that?" asked the young folk of Don and Dorry; and their host and hostess candidly admitted that they hadn't the slightest idea what it was; they never had heard of it before.
"Well, then, how can we play it?" insisted the little spokes-people.
"I don't know," answered Dorry, looking in a puzzled way at the door.
"All join hands and form a circle!" cried a voice.
Every one arose, and soon the circle stood expectant.
"Your dear great-great fairy godmother is coming to see you," continued the voice. "She is slightly deaf, but you must not mind that."
"Oh, no, no!" cried the laughing circle, "not in the least."
"She brings her white gnome with her," said the invisible speaker; "and don't let him know your names, or he will get you into trouble."
A slight stirring was heard in the hall, the doors opened, and in walked the big fairy godmother and her white gnome.
She was a tall, much bent old woman, in a ruffled cap, a peaked hat, and a long red cloak. He, the gnome, wore red trousers and red sleeves. The rest of his body was dressed in a white pillow-case with arm-holes cut in it. It was gathered at his belt; gathered also by a red ribbon tied around the throat; the corners of the pillow-case tied with narrow ribbon formed his ears, and there was a white bandage over his eyes, and a round opening for his mouth. The godmother dragged in a large sack, and the gnome bore a stick with bells at the end.