"Wall, wall, Jenny-gal, did they get you fixed up with fancy riggin's?"
Grandpa Si beamed at the darling of his heart.
The girl looked as though she were walking in a dream. It all seemed very unreal to her. "Oh, it is the loveliest dress!" she exclaimed, "but wherever am I to wear it? I _never_ went to a party, so why do I need a party gown?"
"You shall see what you shall see," was Harold's mysterious reply. Then he added briskly, "Now since we happened to meet you, will you not honor us with your company for lunch?"
"Yes, indeed we will." Lenora, twinkling-eyed, was evidently carrying out a prearranged conversation. "Just lead the way."
An attractive café being near, the party, led thither by Harold, was soon seated at a table in a curtained booth.
Silas Warner beamed across at his good wife. "Sort o' hifalutin doin's we're up to, hey, Ma?"
Susan Warner's cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling. "It sure is a treat to me to know what's on the inside of these places. Will yo' hear that now? There's a fiddle startin' up somewhars."
The "fiddle" was not alone, for an orchestra played during their entire stay. The boys were told to order the lunch, and they seemed to get a good deal of enjoyment out of doing it. They selected delicacies with long French names, but Grandpa Si, who by that time had removed his hat, since the boys had done so, ate everything that was brought to him with a relish, smacking his lips appreciatively and asking, "Wall, Ma, do yo' reckon _you_ could make one o' them concoctions if the waiter'd tell you what the mixin's was?"
"Silas Warner, don't yo' go to askin' him," Susan warned. "He'll think we're greener than we be, even though that's green enough, goodness knows, when it comes to puttin' on sech styles."
The old man leaned over and patted his wife's hand, which was still partly covered with the black lace mit. "Ma, don' yo' go to frettin' about me. I ain't goin' to ask nothin' an', as fer the vittles, thar's none as can cook more to _my_ likin' than yerself, even though thar be less trimmin's."
It was while they were eating their ice cream and cake that Harold suggested that they go to the theatre. It was quite evident that the old people were delighted and so were the girls. "It's a splendid play," Charles put in. "I do wish your sister had come with us." Harold had purposely neglected to tell his friend of the conversation he had had that morning with Gwynette.