"I think it is only fair to tell you that ... in your own language, you have scored also! ... Oblige me by doing your hair in your ordinary fashion for the future!" "Oh, Aunt Maria, you _duck_!" cried Darsie, and for the first time in her life flung her arms voluntarily around the old lady's neck and gave her a sounding kiss. CHAPTER NINE. THE PERCIVALS. It was really rather fun dressing for the visit to the Percivals on Thursday; trying to make oneself look one's _very_ best, and imagining their surprise at the transformation! Aunt Maria, too, seemed quite to enter into the spirit of the thing, inquired anxiously _which_ dress, and gave special instructions that it should be ironed afresh, so that it might appear at its freshest and best. "My woman" had evidently been instructed to take the young guest's wardrobe under her care, since new ribbons and frilling now appeared with engaging frequency, giving quite an air to half-worn garments. Darsie in a blue muslin dress, with a white straw hat wreathed with daisies, and her golden locks floating past her waist, made a charming picture of youth and happiness as she sat in the old barouche, and when the hall was reached Aunt Maria cast a keen glance around the grounds, transparently eager to discover the young people and share in the fun of the meeting. Ralph was nowhere to be seen, that was _not_ to be wondered at under the circumstances, but the two girls were on duty on the tennis-lawn in front of the house, ready to come forward and welcome their guest immediately upon her arrival. The blank gapes of bewilderment with which they witnessed the alighting of the radiant blue and gold apparition afforded keen delight both to aunt and niece. They were literally incapable of speech, and even after Aunt Maria had driven away, coughing in the most suspicious manner behind a raised hand, even then conversation was of the most jerky and spasmodic kind. It was amusing enough for a time, but for a whole afternoon it would certainly pall, and Darsie _did_ want to enjoy herself when she had a chance. She decided that it was time to put matters on a right footing, and looked smilingly to right and left, at her embarrassed, tongue-tied companions. "I think," said Darsie politely, "that I owe you an explanation!" She explained, and Noreen and Ida pealed with laughter, and danced up and down on the gravel path, and slid their hands through her arm, vowing undying friendship on the spot. "How per-fectly killing! I do _love_ a girl who is up to pranks. _What_ a prank! How you _must_ have felt when you saw us sitting there! And Lady Hayes--what _did_ she say? Was she per-fectly furious?" "Aunt Maria behaved like an angel, a dignified angel! I never liked her so much. How did _you_ feel? Tell me just exactly your sentiments when you saw me walking into that room?"