"Pardon the informality. But mother wants to know if you will help us
pour tea at our lawn fete and dance Friday week? It would be so nice
of you."
Louise smiled quietly. But she was not a stickler for social
proprieties; so, although she knew the invitation savored of that
"rawness" of which her aunt had remarked, she was inclined to meet
Lawford's family halfway. She said:
"If you really want me I shall be glad to do what I can to make your
affair a success. Tell your mother I will come--and thank you."
"So kind of you," drawled Marian.
But Cecile was not minded to let the interview end so tamely--or so
suddenly.
"Say!" she exclaimed, "did Ford see you, Miss Grayling, before he went
away?"
"He has gone away, then?" Louise repeated, and she could not keep the
color from flooding into her cheeks.
"He wanted to see you, I'm sure," Cecile said bluntly. "But he started
off in a hurry. Had a dickens of a row with dad."
"Cecile!" admonished Prue. "That sounds worse than it is."
Louise looked at her curiously, though she did not ask a question.
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