"I think you'll have to be the 'Puritan maiden, Priscilla,' though you're far from the right type. Your dark curls, dancing eyes, and red cheeks ought to be pale, fair hair in smooth bands, and a pale face with meek eyes."
"Ho!" laughed Jack, "you're not very Puritanic, are you, Betty? But you'll look all right in a cap, I'm sure."
"I think I'll make you a dress of gray silk," went on Mrs. McGuire; "with a soft mull fichu crossed on your breast, and a starched cap, turned back in Puritan fashion."
"I like red," observed Betty, looking down at her own red cashmere frock with black velvet bows on it.
"But not for Puritan attire," said her mother, smiling. "I'll fix your costume, Betty, and you must promise not to slip up-stairs and add a red sash at the last minute."
Betty's fondness for bright colors, and especially red, was a household word, and Mrs. McGuire fancied that the novelty of plain dove-gray and white would not be unbecoming to rosy-cheeked Betty.
For the next few days nothing was talked of but the old-fashioned party.
Pete was consulted about the Harvest Home part of it, and he suggested that an old flower stand which was out in the tool house should be painted up, and put in one end of the dining-room to hold the donations of fruits and vegetables.
Then, by adding a few vines and flowers, it could be made an attractive decoration.
"Fine!" cried Betty. "That'll be just the thing! We can put pumpkins and cabbages down below, and apples and potatoes in the upper shelves, and trail vines over them all."
Ellen, the cook, was quite willing to make all sorts of goodies that were deemed appropriate, and to the lists of baked beans and gingerbread, were added such satisfactory dishes as roast turkey and pumpkin-pie.
But no ice-cream or dainty salads or bonbons were allowed, for Betty wanted to keep the real atmosphere of a plain old-fashioned Puritan Thanksgiving.
Preparations went busily on, until on Tuesday a letter came from Grandfather Irving.
He was the father of Mrs. McGuire, and lived in Boston. Both Mr. and Mrs. Irving had been invited long ago to spend Thanksgiving at Denniston, but had declined because of another engagement.
Now, Mr. Irving wrote, the other engagement had been canceled, and they were greatly pleased to say they could go to Denniston after all. Moreover, he announced, they would bring with them a charming young lady who was visiting them.