“It’s grander, finer, than I ever dreamed. Oh! if I could some time have just such a home! and doctor, look! What does make that water go up in the air so? Is it what they call a fountain?”
In her excitement Maddy had risen, and with one hand resting on the doctor’s shoulder, was looking around her eagerly. Guy Remington would have laughed, and been gratified, too, could he have heard the enthusiastic praises heaped upon his home by the little schoolgirl as she drove up to his door. But Guy was away in the dusty cars, and only Jessie stood on the piazza to receive her teacher. There were warm words of welcome, kisses and hugs; and then Jessie led her friend to the chamber she was to occupy.
“Mother wanted you to sleep the other side of the house, but Brother Guy said no, you should have a pleasant room; and when Guy says a thing, it’s so. It’s nice in here, and close to me. See, I’m right here,” and Jessie opened a door leading directly to her own sleeping room.
“Here’s one trunk,” she continued, as a servant brought up and set down, a little contemptuously, the small hair-cloth box containing Maddy’s wardrobe. “Here’s one; where’s the rest?” and she was flying after Tom, when Maddy stopped her, saying:
“Only that little, teenty thing? How funny. Why, mamma carried three most as big as my bed to Saratoga. You can’t have many dresses. What are you going to wear to dinner?”
“I’ve been to dinner.” And Maddy looked up in some surprise.
“You have! We never have it till five, when Guy is at home; but now they are gone, Mrs. Noah says we will have it at one, as folks ought to do. To-day I coaxed her to wait till you come, and the table is all set out so nicely for two. Can you carve, and do you like green turtle soup?”
Maddy was bewildered, but managed to reply that she could not carve, that she never saw any green turtle soup, and that she supposed she should wear to dinner the delaine she had on. “Why, we always change, even Mrs. Noah,” Jessie exclaimed, bending over the open trunk and examining its contents.
Two calicoes, a blue muslin, a gingham and another delaine, beside the one she had on. That was the sum total of Maddy’s wardrobe, and Jessie glanced at it a little ruefully as Maddy carefully shook out the nicely folded dresses and laid them upon the bed. Here Mrs. Noah was heard calling Jessie, who ran away leaving Maddy alone for a moment.