"They're dreadful," agreed Henrietta, "but in this case you'll really have to do it. I've planned it all nicely. In the first place, you must hand your cards to the butler----" "Cards!" gasped Jean and Bettie. "Cards!" snorted Mabel, flushing indignantly. "We haven't a card to our names!" "You _must_ have them," declared Henrietta, firmly, "or Simmons may consider you suspicious characters. Simmons is a very lofty person. You can write some, you know, because Simmons holds his chin so high that it interferes with the view, so he'll never know what's on them. Then you must be very polite to Grandmother and say 'Yes, ma'am,' 'No, ma'am,' 'Thank you, ma'am'--and not very much else. You've seen Grandmother, of course? Then you know how very formal and stiff she looks. Well, _you_ must be like that, too." "I'll try," said Mabel, "but it'll be pretty hard work." "Be sure to wear gloves," cautioned Henrietta. "Grandmother is exceedingly particular about shoes and gloves. I know it's a lot of trouble, but you'll find it pays; for after you've beaten down the icy barrier that surrounds me, you'll find me quite a comfortable person. And _do_ come just as early as you can--I'm really desperately lonely." This was a different Henrietta from the merry one that Bettie had encountered. That other Henrietta had made her laugh. This one, with the wistful, sorrowful countenance and the four words "I'm really desperately lonely," was almost moving her to tears. "You'll surely come," pleaded Henrietta. "We'll come," promised Bettie, "cards and all." "_Au revoir_," said Henrietta, carefully balancing her cup on the top rail of the fence. "I must run along now to try on my clothes." "Was that French?" queried Mabel, gazing after the departing figure. "I think so," replied Jean. "She can certainly talk English fast enough," said Marjory. "I suppose just one language _isn't_ enough for anybody that chatters like that." "Do you think," asked Bettie, "she meant all that about cards and gloves and butlers? She's so full of fun most of the time that I don't exactly know whether to believe her or not." "I think she did," said Marjory. "You see, I sit behind Mrs. Slater in church--and I'm thankful that it's behind." "Perhaps that's the reason," ventured Bettie, "that nobody'll rent the three pews in front of her. Father says it's hard to even give them away. No one likes to sit in them." "That's it," agreed Marjory. "One would have to be sure that her back hair was absolutely perfect to be at all comfortable in front of Mrs. Slater." "And that," groaned discouraged Mabel, "is the sort of person I'm to make my first formal call on." "You'd better take your bath to-night," advised Jean, "and lay out all your very best clothes. And don't forget to polish your shoes." "Father has some blank cards," said Bettie, "and he writes beautifully. I'll get him to do cards for all of us."