Kitabı oku: «Marjorie's New Friend», sayfa 8
"No; never! Are you?"
"No; I have crossed eighty-seven times, so I'm used to it. Did you know there's a case of diphtheria on board?"
"No, is that so?"
"Yes. Somebody in the steerage, I believe. That's why we're stopped at
Quarantine."
This struck both girls so funny that they had to stop and giggle at it.
"My precious Goldenrod!" cried the Countess of Heliotrope, "I fear she will catch it!"
"You'd better have her vaccinated at once. It's a sure cure."
"I will. But let us go inside, the sea-breeze is too strong out here."
The game seemed full of possibilities, and the tourists were still playing it when dinner time came.
So they pretended it was the ship's dining-saloon to which they went, and Mrs. Spencer and Miss Hart were strangers, passengers whom they had not yet met.
The game once explained to Miss Hart, she grasped it at once, and played her part to perfection.
"I should think," she said, finally, "that some such game as this would be a fine way to study geography!"
"Now what can she mean by that?" thought Marjorie.
CHAPTER XV
A SEA TRIP
As the days went by, Marjorie became more accustomed to her new surroundings, and felt quite at home in the Spencer household.
The baby's illness ran its course and though the child was very sick, the doctor felt hopeful that they could keep the other children free from infection. Mrs. Spencer felt keenly the trying situation, but Miss Hart was so bright and cheerful that she made everybody feel happy.
So, as far as the two little girls were concerned, it was just as if Marjorie were merely making a visit to Delight.
The children were becoming very much attached to each other. Delight greatly admired Marjorie's enthusiastic, go-ahead ways, and Midget was impressed by Delight's quiet way of accomplishing things.
Both were clever, capable children, and could usually do whatever they set out to, but Marjorie went at it with a rush and a whirl, while Delight was more slow and sure.
But Delight was of a selfish disposition, and this was very foreign to Marjorie's wide generosity of spirit. However, she concluded it must be because Delight was an only child, and had no brothers or sisters to consider.
Marjorie's own brother and sister were very attentive to their exiled one. A dozen times a day King or Kitty would telephone the latest news from school or home, and very frequently James would cross the street with a note or a book or a funny picture for Midget, from some of the Maynards. So the days didn't drag; and as for the morning hours, they were the best of all.
"It's like a party every day," said Marjorie to her mother, over the telephone. "Miss Hart is so lovely, and not a bit like a school-teacher. We never have regular times for any lesson. She just picks out whatever lesson she wants to, and we have that. Last night we bundled up and went out on the upper balcony and studied astronomy. She showed us Orion, and lots of other constitutions, or whatever you call them. Of course we don't have school evenings, but that was sort of extra. Oh, Mother, she is just lovely!"
"I'm so glad, my Midget, that you're enjoying your lessons. Do you practice every day?"
"Yes, Mother; an hour every afternoon. Miss Hart helps me a little with that, too, and Delight and I are learning a duet."
"That's fine! And you don't get into mischief?"
"No,—at least not much. I shut one of the kittens up in a bureau drawer and forgot her; but Miss Hart found her before she got very dead, and she livened her up again. So, that's all right."
"Not quite all right; but I'm sure you won't do it again. I can't seem to scold you when you're away from me, so do try to be a good girl, won't you, my Midget."
"Yes, Mother, I truly will."
And she did. Partly because of the restraint of visiting, and partly by her own endeavors, Marjorie was, on the whole, as well-behaved a child as any one could wish. And if she taught Delight more energetic and noisy games than she had ever heard before, they really were beneficial to the too quiet little girl.
One day they discovered what Miss Hart meant by using their steamer game for geography lessons. During school hours she proposed that they all play the steamer game.
Very willingly the girls arrayed themselves in wraps and caps, Miss Hart also wearing tourist garb, and with shawl straps and bundles, and with the kittens, also well wrapped up, they boarded the steamer.
Miss Hart, who pretended to be a stranger with whom they became acquainted on board, told them they were taking the Mediterranean trip to Naples.
The school-room was, of course, the principal saloon of the boat, and as the passengers sat round a table, Miss Hart, by means of a real steamer chart, showed them the course they were taking across the Atlantic.
Time of course was not real, and soon they had to pretend they had been at sea for a week or more.
Then Miss Hart said they were nearing the Azores and would stop there for a short time.
So they left the steamer, in imagination, and Miss Hart described to them the beauties and attractions of these islands. She had photographs and post cards, and pressed blossoms of the marvellous flowers that grow there. So graphic were her descriptions that the girls almost felt they had really been there.
"To-morrow," she said, as they returned to the ship, "we shall reach Gibraltar. There we will get off and stay several hours, and I'm sure you will enjoy it."
And enjoy it they certainly did. Next day it occurred, and when they left the ship to visit Gibraltar, they were taken to Miss Hart's own room, which she had previously arranged for them.
Here they found pictures of all the interesting points in or near Gibraltar. There were views of the great rock, and Miss Hart told them the history of the old town, afterward questioning them about it, to be sure they remembered. That was always part of her queer teaching, to question afterward, but it was easy to remember things so pleasantly taught.
She showed them pieces of beautiful Maltese lace, explaining how it was made, and why it was sold at Gibraltar, and she showed them pictures of the Moors in their strange garb, and told of their history. The luncheon bell sent them scurrying to the ship's dining-room, and they begged of Miss Hart that they might go on to Naples next day.
But she said that geography mustn't monopolize all the days, and next day, although she wasn't sure, probably there would be a session with Mr. Arithmetic.
"I don't care," said Midget, happily, "I know we'll have a lovely time, even if it is arithmetic."
Valentine's Day came before the quarantine was raised.
Marjorie was very sorry for this, for the doctor had said that after a few days more she could go home, and it seemed as if she might have gone for the fourteenth.
But he would not allow it, so there was nothing to do but make the best of it.
The night before Valentine's Day, however, she did feel a bit blue, as she thought of King and Kitty and even Rosy Posy addressing their valentines, and making a frolic of it as they always did.
And she thought of her father, who was always ready to help on such occasions, making verses, and printing them in his fine, neat handwriting. Of course, they would send some to her,—she knew that,—but she was losing all the jolly family fun, and it seemed a pity.
And then the telephone rang, and it was her father calling for her.
"Hello, Midget," came his cheery voice over the wire; "now I wonder if a little girl about you? size isn't feeling sorry for herself this evening."
"I'm afraid I am, Father, but I'm trying not to."
"Good for you, Sister! Now don't bother to do it, for I can tell you I'm feeling so sorry for you that it's unnecessary for anybody else to do that same. Now I'll tell you something to chirk you up. I suppose you have lessons to-morrow morning?"
"Yes; Miss Hart said we could have a holiday if we chose, but we didn't choose. So we're going to have special valentiney lessons,—I don't know what they'll be."
"All right; and in the afternoon, I shall send you over a valentine party. No people, you know, they're not allowed; but all the rest of a nice valentine party."
"Why, Father, how can we have a party without people?"
"Easily enough. I'll attend to that. Goodnight, now, Midget. Hop to bed, and dream hearts and darts and loves and doves and roses and posies and all such things."
"All right, I will. Good-night, Father dear. Is Mother there?"
"Yes,—hold the wire."
So Mrs. Maynard came and said a loving goodnight to her near yet faraway daughter, and Marjorie went to bed all cheered up, instead of lonely and despondent.
St. Valentine's Day was a fine, crisp winter day, with sunshine dancing on the snow, and blue sky beaming down on the bare branches of the trees.
The fun began at breakfast-time, when everybody found valentines at their plates,—for as Midge and Delight agreed, they had made so many, and they must use them up somehow. So Miss Hart and Mrs. Spencer received several in the course of the day; two were surreptitiously stuffed into Doctor Mendel's coat pockets, and the kittens each received some.
Lessons that morning were not really lessons at all. Miss Hart called it a Literature Class.
First she told the girls about the origin of Valentines, and how they happened to be named for St. Valentine, and why he was chosen as the patron saint of love. Then she read them some celebrated valentines written by great poets, and the girls had to read them after her, with great care as to their elocution.
She showed them some curious valentines, whose initials spelled names or words, and were called acrostics, and told of some quaint old-fashioned valentines that had been sent to her grandmother.
"And now," she said finally, "we've had enough of the sentimental side, I will read you a funny valentine story."
So, in her whimsical, dramatic fashion, she read the tragic tale of Mr. Todgers and Miss Tee.
"In the town of Slocum Pocum, eighteen-seventy A.D.,
Lived Mr. Thomas Todgers and Miss Thomasina Tee;
The lady blithely owned to forty-something in the shade,
While Todgers, chuckling, called himself a rusty-eating blade,
And on the village green they lived in two adjacent cots.
Adorned with green Venetians and vermilion flower pots.
"No doubt you've heard it stated—'tis an aphorism trite—
That people who live neighborly in daily sound and sight
Of each other's personality, habitually grow
To look alike, and think alike, and act alike, and so
Did Mr. Thomas Todgers and Miss Thomasina Tee,
In the town of Slocum Pocum, eighteen-seventy A.D.
"Now Todgers always breakfasted at twenty-five to eight,
At seven-thirty-five Miss Tee poured out her chocolate;
And Todgers at nine-thirty yawned 'Lights out! I'll go to bed.'
At half-past nine Miss Tee 'retired'—a word she used instead.
Their hours were identical at meals and church and chores,
At weeding in the garden, or at solitaire indoors."
"'Twas the twelfth of February, so the chronicler avers;
Mr. Todgers in his garden, and Miss Tee, of course, in hers;
Both assiduously working, both no doubt upon their knees,
Chanced to raise their eyes together; glances met—and, if you please,
Ere one could say Jack Robinson! tut-tut! or fol-de-re!
Thomasina loved Mr. Todgers; Mr. Todgers loved Miss Tee!
"Two heads with but a single thought went bobbing to the dust,
And Todgers smiled sub rosa, and Miss Thomasina blushed;
Then they seized their garden tackle and incontinently fled
Down the box-edged pathways past the flower pots of red;
Past the vivid green Venetians, past the window curtains white,
Into their respective dwellings, and were seen no more that night.
"All that night poor love-sick Todgers tried his new-born hopes to quell,
And Miss Tee made resolutions, but she did not make them well,
For they went to smash at daybreak, and she softly murmured ''Tis
Kismet! Fate! Predestination! If he'll have me I am his.'
While Todgers sang 'There's Only One Girl in This World for Me,'
Or its music hall equivalent in eighteen-seventy.
"It was February thirteenth (On, my Pegasus! Nor balk
At that fear-inspiring figure!) Thomasina took a walk.
And Fate drew her—drew her—drew her by a thousand spidery lines
To a Slocum Pocum window filled chockful of valentines,
All gaudy—save two, just alike in color, shape and size,
Which pressed against the window pane and caught the lady's eyes.
"'How chaste! How charming! How complete!' she cried. 'It must be mine!
I'll tell my love to Thomas in this lovely valentine,
Whereon is suitably inscribed, in letters fine and free,
'SEND BACK THIS TENDER TOKEN IF YOU CANNOT MARRY ME.'
So with her cheeks all rosy, and her pulses all astir,
She went in and brought the valentine and took it home with her.
"Ten minutes later Thomas paused outside the self-same store.
You guess the rest. Fate grappled him and pushed him through the door,
And made him buy the fellow to the very valentine
Which Thomasina had purchased there at twenty-five to nine.
He chuckled (and Fate chuckled) the appropriate words to see—
'SEND BACK THIS TENDER TOKEN IF YOU CANNOT MARRY ME.'
"It was February fourteenth, and the postman's rat-a-tat
Made two hearts in Slocum Pocum beat a feverish pit-pat
Thomas and Thomasina each in turn rushed doorwards and
Snatched their respective missives from the post's extended hand;
And the postman, wicked rascal, slowly winked the other eye,
And said: 'Seems to me the old folks is a gettin' pretty spry.'
"They tore the letters open. 'What is this? Rejected! Spurned!'
Both thought the cards before them were their valentines returned.
And Thomas went to Africa, and Thomasina to Rome;
And other tenants came to fill each small deserted home.
So no more in Slocum Pocum may we hope again to see
Poor Mr. Thomas Todgers and poor Thomasina Tee."
"That's awfully funny," said Delight, as Miss Hart finished reading, "but I should think they would have known they got each other's valentine."
"I shouldn't," said Midge, who entered more into the spirit of the story; "they didn't know each other sent any, so each thought their own was returned. Besides, if they hadn't thought so, there wouldn't have been any story."
"That's so," said Delight, who usually agreed with Marjorie, finally.
The postman brought lots of valentines for the two little girls. Delight's were almost all from her friends in New York, although some of the Rockwell young people had remembered her too.
Marjorie's were nearly all from Rockwell, and though there were none from any of her family, that did not bother her, for she knew they would come in the afternoon for the "party."
CHAPTER XVI
A VALENTINE PARTY
At four o'clock the "party" came. Midget and Delight, watching from the window, saw James and Thomas come across the street, bringing between them a great big something, all wrapped in white tissue paper. They left their burden, whatever it was, on the porch, rang the door-bell, and went away.
The children flew to the door, and, with the help of Mary and Miss Hart, they brought the big thing in.
Though bulky, it was not heavy, and they set it in the library and proceeded to take off the wrappings. As the last sheet of tissue paper was removed, shrieks of admiration went up from the girls, and Mrs. Spencer came running in to see what the excitement was about.
She saw a large heart, about five feet high, made on a light wood frame, which was covered with red crépe paper. It was bordered with red and white gilt flowers, also made of paper, and at the top was a big bow of red ribbon, with long fluttering streamers. On top of the heart, of either shoulder, sat two beautiful white doves which were real doves, stuffed, and they held in their beaks envelopes, one marked Delight and one Marjorie.
The whole affair had a back stay, and stood up on the floor like an easel. The paper that covered the heart was put on in folds, like tucks upside down, and in the folds were thrust many envelopes, that doubtless contained valentines. Between and among these were little cupids and doves fastened on, also nosegays of flowers and fluttering ribbons, and hearts pierced with darts, and the whole effect was like one great big valentine.
Before touching the envelopes, Delight and Marjorie sat on the floor, their arms round each other, and gazed at the pretty sight.
"Did your father make it?" asked Delight.
"He planned it, I'm sure," replied Marjorie. "But they all helped make it, I know. I suppose Father had the frame made somewhere, then he and Mother covered it, and Kit and King helped make the flowers and things.
Oh, I wish I'd been there!"
"Then they wouldn't have made it!" said Delight, quickly, and Midge laughed, and said:
"No, I suppose not. Well, shall we begin to read the valentines?"
"Yes, but let's take them out slowly, and make it last a long while."
"Yes, for this is our 'party,' you know. Oh, see, these envelopes in the doves' bills say on them, 'To be opened last.' So we'll begin with these others. You take one with your name on, first."
So Delight pulled out an envelope that was addressed to her.
It contained a valentine of which the principal figure was a pretty little girl, something like Delight herself. Inside was written:
"Flossy Flouncy, fair and fine,
Let me be your Valentine.
Here's my heart laid at your feet,
Flossy Flouncy, fair and sweet."
"I know King wrote that!" cried Midget; "he always calls you Flossy Flouncy. You don't mind, do you?"
"No, indeed! I think it's fun. I'm going to call him Old King Cole. That is, if I ever see him again."
"Oh, pshaw! We'll be out of this prison next week. The doctor said so.
And you must come and make me a visit to even things up."
"Mother wouldn't let me go to your house to stay, I'm sure; but I can go over afternoons or Saturdays."
"Yes, and you'll get to know King better. He's an awful nice boy."
"I'm sure he is. Now you take a valentine."
Midget pulled out the biggest one that was addressed to her. It held a beautiful, large valentine, not home-made, but of most elaborate design.
On its back, though, was a verse written, that Midge knew at once was done by her father. It said:
"Marjorie Midget Mopsy Mops,
I have looked through all the shops,
Searching for a Valentine
Good enough for Midget Mine.
This is the best that I could do,
So here it is with my love so true."
"Isn't it a beauty!" cried Midge; "I never had such a handsome one before. See how the flowers are tied with real ribbons, and the birds hop in and out of their cages."
"It's splendid!" said Delight, "and here's a big one for me too!"
She pulled out a large envelope, addressed to herself, and found a valentine quite as beautiful as Marjorie's and almost exactly like it. It was from her father, and as Mr. Spencer didn't have the knack of rhyming as well as Mr. Maynard, he had written on the back:
"Dear Delight,
I can't write,
But I send you
Affection true,
Yankee Doodle Doo!"
"I think that's funny!" cried Marjorie. "I love funny valentines."
"So do I," agreed Delight; "and I didn't know father could make rhymes as well as that. He must have learned from your father."
"I 'spect he did. Everybody makes verses at our house."
Marjorie smiled to think of the grave and dignified Mr. Spencer learning to write funny rhymes, but she was glad Delight had a big valentine like hers.
Then they pulled out the others, by turns. Some were lovely ones that had been bought; some were home-made ones; some were funny, but the funny ones were home-made, they were not the dreadful things that are called "comic" valentines.
Then there were valentines from Gladys and her brother Dick, which had been delivered by the postman at Marjorie's home, and sent over with the others. There was one from each of the home servants, who were all fond of Midget, and glad to send her a token of remembrance. And among the best of all were valentines from Grandma Sherwood and Uncle Steve.
Uncle Steve was especially clever at writing verses, and he sent several valentines to both the girls.
One bore a picture of two weeping maidens, behind barred windows in a castle tower. The verses ran thus:
"Two Princesses locked in a tower,
Alas, alas for they!
I would they need not stay an hour,
Nor yet another day.
But to a lovely rosy bower
The two might fly away.
"I would I were a birdie fleet
That I might wing a flight,
And bear to them a message sweet
Each morning, noon and night.
Twould be to me a perfect treat
To see their faces bright.
"But, no, in their far home they stay,
And I must stay in mine;
But though we are so far away
Our thoughts we may entwine.
And I will send this little lay
From your fond
"VALENTINE."
"That's lovely," said Delight, "and it's for me as much as you. What jolly relatives you have."
"Oh, Uncle Steve is wonderful. He can do anything. Sometime perhaps you can go to his house with me, then you'll see. Oh, here's a pretty one, listen."
Midge read aloud:
"What is a Valentine? Tell me, pray.
Only a fanciful roundelay
Bearing a message from one to another
(This time, to a dear little girl from her mother).
Message of love and affection true;
This is a Valentine, I LOVE YOU!"
"That's sweet. Did your mother write it?"
"Yes, Mother makes lovely poetry. Here's a ridiculous one from Kit."
"Marjorie, Parjorie, Pudding and Pie,
Hurry up home, or I'll have to cry.
Since you've been gone I've grown so thin
I'm nothing at all but bone and skin.
So hurry up home if you have any pity
For your poor little lonesome sister
"KITTY."
"Why, I thought people never signed valentines," said Delight, laughing at Kitty's effusion.
"They don't, real ones. But of course these are just nonsense ones, and anyway I know Kit's writing, so it doesn't matter."
There were lots of others, and through Marjorie, naturally, had more than Delight, yet there were plenty for both girls, and set out on two tables they made a goodly show. Miss Hart was called in to see them, but she answered that she was busy in the dining-room just then, and would come in a few moments.
The big heart that had held the valentines was not at all marred, but rather improved by their removal, and, the girls admired it more than ever.
"But we haven't taken the last ones yet," said Delight, looking at the two envelopes in the bills of the doves. They took them at the same time, and opened them simultaneously.
Each contained a valentine and a tiny parcel. The valentines were exactly alike, and their verses read the same:
"This is a Ring Dove, fair and white
That brings this gift to you to-night.
But why a Ring Dove, you may ask;
The answer is an easy task.
Look in this tiny box and see
What has the Ring Dove brought to thee!"
Eagerly the girls opened the boxes, and inside, on a bit of cotton wool, lay two lovely rings exactly alike. They were set with a little heart made of tiny pearls and turquoises, and they just fitted the fingers of the two little girls.
"Aren't they exquisite!" cried Delight, who loved pretty things.
"Beautiful!" agreed Midge, who thought more of the ring as a souvenir. "We can always remember to-day by them. I suppose your father sent yours and my father sent mine."
"Yes, of course they did. Oh, Miss Hart, do look at our rings and valentines!"
Miss Hart came in, smiling, and proved an interested audience of one, as she examined all the pretty trifles.
"And now," said Miss Hart, at last, "there's more to your valentine party. Will you come out to the dining-room and see it?"
Wondering, the two girls followed Miss Hart to the dining-room, and fairly stood still in astonishment at the scene. As it was well after dusk now, the shades had been drawn, and the lights turned on. The table was set as if for a real party, and the decorations were all of pink and white.
Pink candles with pretty pink shades cast a soft light, and pink and white flowers were beautifully arranged. In the centre was a waxen cupid with gilt wings, whose outstretched hands bore two large hearts suspended by ribbons. These hearts were most elaborate satin boxes, one having Marjorie on it in gilt letters and the other Delight. As it turned out, they were to be kept as jewel boxes, or boxes for any little trinkets, but now they were filled with delicious bon-bons, the satin lining being protected by tinfoil and lace paper.
The table was laid for four, and at each place was a valentine.
Mrs. Spencer and Miss Hart took their seats, but, at first, the girls were too bewildered to understand.
"It's your party, Marjorie," said Miss Hart, smiling. "Your father and mother sent it all over,—everything, even the candles and flowers. All we've done is to arrange it on the table. So you must sit at the head, as you're hostess."
So Midget took her place at the head of the table, with Delight opposite.
Each person had a parcel at their plate, daintily tied up in pink paper and white ribbon, and sealed with little gold hearts.
Mrs. Spencer said they would not open these until after the feast, so after they had looked a few moments longer on the pretty things all about the table, Mary brought in the first course, and the party began.
First there was fruit, and this consisted of a slice of pineapple cut in a heart shape, and surrounded on the plate by strawberries and candied cherries. This dainty arrangement, on lace paper, was so pretty that Delight said it was too bad to disturb it.
"It's too good not to be disturbed," said Marjorie, and as it was really dinner time, and the girls were hungry, the lovely fruit course soon disappeared.
"This isn't dinner," said Mrs. Spencer, "it's a party supper. Your party, you know, Marjorie."
"Yes'm; I didn't see how Father could send me a party without people. But he did his part, didn't he?"
"Yes, indeed; and we're doing ours. We've all the people that we can have, and so we'll make the best of it."
"I think it's a lovely party," said Delight, "the best one I ever went to. Oh, what are these?"
For Mary was just passing the most fascinating looking dish. It was oyster croquettes, carefully moulded in heart shapes, accompanied by French fried potatoes also cut into little hearts.
"Ellen cut these, I know she did," said Marjorie. "She's such a clever cook, and she loves to make fancy things."
"Your mother is very fortunate with her servants," said Mrs. Spencer, with a little sigh.
And then came lovely brown bread sandwiches, of course they were heart shaped too, and Marjorie declared she'd have heart-disease if these things kept on!
But they did keep on. Next came jellied chicken that had been moulded in heart forms, and lettuce salad with red hearts cut from beets among the crisp yellow leaves.
Then came dessert, and it was a bewildering array of heart ice creams, and heart cakes, and heart bon-bons, and heart shaped forms of jelly.
"Only one of each, to-night," said Mrs. Spencer, smiling. "I don't want two invalids for valentines, I can assure you."
So lots of the good things were left over for next day, and Marjorie remarked that she thought the next day's feast was always about as much fun as the party any way.
"Now for our presents," said Delight, as the last plates were removed, and they sat round the table still feasting their eyes on the pretty trinkets that decorated it.
So Mrs. Spencer opened her parcel first.
She found a silver photograph frame shaped like a heart. Of course, Mr.
Spencer had sent it, and the pretty card with it read:
"As at my verse I'm sure you'd sniff,
I simply send this little gift.
"VALENTINE."
The Spencers seemed to think this a fine poem but Marjorie secretly wondered if a grown-up man could think those words rhymed!
Miss Hart opened her box next, and found a heart-shaped filigree gold brooch of great beauty. The Maynards had sent her this, not only as a valentine, but as a token of gratitude for her kindness to Marjorie.
These verses were written on a fancy card:
"Hearts to Miss Hart
So I bring you a heart.
Your name is fine
For a Valentine.
Though this trinket small
Can't tell you all
'Twill give you a hint
That hearts are not flint;
And when this one of gold
Our good wishes has told,
May it brightly shine
As your valentine."
"It's just a darling!" exclaimed Miss Hart, looking at the welcome gift.
"Your parents are too good to me, Marjorie."
"I'm glad of it," said Midge, simply, "you're too good to me!"
She smiled at Miss Hart, and then she and Delight opened their boxes together.
Their gifts were just alike, and were pink and gold cups and saucers. The china and decoration were exquisite, and both cup and saucer were heart shaped. Not the most convenient shape to drink from, perhaps, but lovely for a souvenir of Valentine's Day.
Then they took the boxes held out by the wax cupid, and admired the tufted satin and the painted garlands.
"Let's take the candies out and put them in other boxes," said Delight, "so there'll be no danger of getting a bit of chocolate on the satin."
This was a good idea, and then they took all the pretty ornaments into the library and set them around on tables.
"It's like Christmas," said Delight, with a little sigh of happiness. "I do love pretty things."
"Then you ought to be happy now," said Miss Hart, "for I never saw such an array of favors."
And indeed the room looked like a valentine shop, with its flowers and gifts and cupids and valentines, and the big heart standing in front of the mantel.
Then Miss Hart spent the evening playing games with the children, and after an enthusiastic telephone conversation with the people opposite, Marjorie and Delight went upstairs, agreeing that nobody had ever had such a lovely Valentine party.
