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