Two Little Women

by Carolyn Wells

  CHAPTER IV

  THE BIRTHDAY MORNING

  Dotty Rose woke early next morning, and, wide-awake on the instant,sprang from her bed and flew to the window. But she could see nothing ofDolly. The white shades were down and there was no sign of any onestirring. Dotty turned back and began anew to look at her prettybelongings. On the dressing-table she spied something she had not seenthere the night before. It was a lovely picture of Dolly in a beautifulsilver frame. Dotty laughed outright, for that was exactly what she hadgiven Dolly! A silver frame with her own picture in it. The two mothershad been in the secret, and had seen to it that the frames were alike,but neither of the girls knew that her gift was to be duplicated.

  It was a perfect likeness, showing Dolly at her best; a dreamyexpression on her sweet face, and her soft hair in little waves at hertemples, and drawn back by an enormous ribbon bow.

  It was almost too early to get dressed, so Dotty slipped on adressing-gown and bedroom slippers and dawdled about, keeping a watchon the Fayre house, in hopes Dolly's shades would fly up.

  Soon her little sister Eugenia came bounding in. She, too, was in akimono and she gave a jump and landed with a spring in the middle ofDotty's carefully arranged couch pillows.

  "Genie!" cried her sister, "get off of there!"

  "Won't!" and Genie bounced up and down on the springs of the couch.

  "Get off, I tell you!"

  "Won't, I tell you!"

  It _was_ trying, for the pretty pillows with their snowy whiteembroidered covers were rumpled and tossed by Genie's mischievous play.

  "Genie Rose! You go right straight out of my room! You're a naughtylittle girl and you're spoiling my birthday things!"

  "Dorothy Rose, With a pug nose!"

  chanted Genie, with the amiable intention of teasing her sister beyondendurance.

  And she did, for Dotty flung back:

  "Genie, Genie, You're a meany!"

  and then she grabbed her and pulled her off the pillows and pushed herout of the room and locked the door.

  "It's a shame!" and poor Dotty nearly cried to see the havoc naughtylittle Genie had wrought. One pillow cover was torn and another had ablack mark from the sole of Genie's slipper.

  She heard a tap at the door, and her mother's voice said, "Let me in,Dotty, dear."

  Dotty opened the door, and exclaimed: "Mother! Isn't Genie the badlittle thing! Look at my pretty pillows!"

  "Oh, what a shame! Why _do_ you two children quarrel so?"

  "We didn't quarrel. Genie did it on purpose."

  "But why can't you be loving, kind little sisters? You're always teasingeach other."

  "But I didn't tease her, Mother."

  "Well, you usually do. Now, Dotty, can't you make a birthday resolutionto be more patient with Genie? Remember she's only a little girl, whileyou're getting grown up. Fifteen is almost a young lady, and you shouldbe kind and gentle with everybody."

  "I s'pose I ought," and Dorothy sighed; "but it's hard to have mybirthday things upset. Aren't you going to punish her, Mother?"

  "Oh, no; she didn't mean to be naughty. She was only mischievous. I'llmend your pillow, and the soiled one can be laundered."

  Dotty's anger was always quick to come and quick to go, and she smiledbrightly, as she said, "all right. I'll forgive her this time, but she'sgot to stop that kind of teasing."

  "I'll speak to her," said easy-going Mrs. Rose; "how do you like Dolly'spicture?"

  "Lovely, isn't it? Did you and Mrs. Fayre know about the frames?"

  "Yes; and we wanted them to be alike; but I had to urge you to take thisinstead of that other pattern. Remember?"

  "Yes, indeed," and Dotty smiled to think how determined she had been inthe matter, but had at last yielded to her mother's judgment.

  "Oh, there's Dolly!" she cried, as she saw the shade go up in theopposite window. "Hello. Happy Birthday!" she called out.

  Dolly returned the greeting, and the two girls waved their respectivephotographs at each other, and then both began to get dressed.

  Dolly, too, had a morning visit from her sister.

  Trudy looked in on her way down to breakfast.

  "Happy Birthday, Doll!" she said; "shall I tie your hair-ribbon?"

  She stepped into the new room, and while tying the big bow, lookedaround admiringly.

  "You're a lucky little kiddy to have such a lovely room. It's prettierthan mine."

  "I know it is, Trudy," and Dolly looked regretful. "I'll change withyou, if you like. I think as you're the oldest you ought to have theprettiest room."

  "Not at all, you little goosy!" and Trudy kissed the troubled face."This is your fifteenth birthday, and I'm glad you have such a beautifulgift to remember it by."

  With their arms around each other, the two girls went downstairs.

  "Whoop-de-doo! Dollykins," cried her father, throwing down his paper;"why, you don't look a bit different from when you were fourteen! Ithought you'd be a foot taller, at least!"

  "I don't feel any taller or any older, Father; and I don't s'pose I'llact so. But Mumsie, mayn't I stop wearing hair-ribbons? Dotty's goingto."

  "Are you sure?" and Mrs. Fayre looked quizzical, for she had discussedthis weighty matter with Mrs. Rose.

  "No, not sure; but Dotty's going to ask her mother and she thinks shecan make her say yes."

  "Well, let's wait and see what Mrs. Rose does say," and Mrs. Fayre tookher place at the breakfast table.

  "It seems funny not to have a lot of presents at your place, Doll," saidTrudy, smiling.

  "That's all right," and Dolly returned the smile; "I agreed that my roomfixings were to take the place of all other presents."

  "And then you have the party, you know," said her father. "Mr. Rose hasa delightful surprise for it, and when I come home this afternoon I'llbring something to add to the gaiety of nations."

  "Oh, Father, what?"

  "Never you mind, curiosity-box! You'll see soon enough."

  "Will you come home early, Father?"

  "As early as I can. By five, surely."

  After breakfast, the two heroines of the occasion went out to theirrespective side verandahs, and the usual morning programme was carriedout.

  Each frantically waved her hand to the other, calling, "Come over!"

  Then each vigorously shook her head, shouting: "No, you come over here!"

  "No, you!"

  "No, you!"

  Then Dolly, coaxingly, "Aw, come on,--come on over."

  Then Dotty, positively, "No, sir! it's your turn. Come on over here."

  With slight variations this dialogue was repeated every morning. Notthat either cared much which went to the other's house, but it was oneof their habits. Perhaps Dolly oftenest gave in, and on this birthdaymorning, the colloquy was short before she ran across the grass and thetwo friends sat in the Roses' hammock, swinging vigorously as theytalked.

  "How'd you like my present to you?" asked Dotty, with twinkling eyes.

  "Lovely!" and Dolly smiled back. "How'd you like mine to you?"

  "Beautiful! Truly, Dollyrinda, I'm awful glad to have that picture ofyou."

  "So am I of you. Did you get any plate presents?"

  "No; I didn't expect any. All the family gave me things for my room, youknow. Bob sent me a dear little clock."

  "How nice; Bert sent me a pair of candlesticks,--glass ones,--they'reawfully pretty."

  "Isn't it funny we don't know each other's brothers."

  "We will soon, though. Bert is coming home in about two weeks."

  "Yes, so is Bob. As soon as school closes. Oh, here come the men to putup the tent! Let's go and watch them."

  Dolly had been allowed to stay at home from school for the day, and thetwo girls, followed by Genie, ran out on the lawn to see what was goingon.

  In order to make the party a truly joint affair, it had been decided toset up a tent on the lawn exactly midway between the two houses, for theparty supper. It was a large tent, and gay with red trimmings a
nd flags.Inside, tables were set up, and the maids from both houses brought outplates and glasses in abundance.

  "Oh, isn't it just _grand_!" exclaimed Dotty, seizing Dolly round thewaist and making her dance about the lawn.

  "Lovely; but don't rumple me so, Dotty! This is a clean frock."

  "Oh, what an old fuss you are! Always thinking about your clothes!"

  "I am not, any such thing! But what's the use of spoiling a clean dressthe minute you put it on?"

  "All right, I'll keep away from you, if you're so afraid I'll muss youup! Proudy!"

  For some unknown reason, this epithet was the most scathing in thegirls' vocabulary, and either was quick to resent it.

  "I am not a Proudy! And you'd look nicer if you took a little bettercare of your own clothes,--so there now!"

  "My clothes are all right! They're as good as yours! I wish we didn'thave a birthday together!"

  Dotty flounced away, and Dolly walked home with an exaggerated dignity.

  These little quarrels were very silly; but they often occurred betweenthese two who were really good friends, but who sometimes acted veryfoolishly.

  Dolly went in her own house, and as she ran upstairs, she sang so verygaily, that Mrs. Fayre looked at Trudy, and said, "Another fuss!"

  "Yes," and Trudy sighed. "I don't know as Dotty Rose is a very goodfriend for Dolly; they quarrel a lot."

  "Oh, well, they get over it right away. I think it is good for Dolly tohave some one to stir her up now and then. She's naturally so meek andmild."

  "Well, Dotty Rose stirs her up, all right!" and Trudy laughed.

  It was about half an hour later, that Genie Rose appeared before Mrs.Fayre.

  "Where's Dolly?" she demanded.

  "Can't you speak a little more politely, Genie?" and Mrs. Fayre smiledpleasantly at the child.

  "You ain't my mother to tell me what to say!"

  "No; but this is my house and I like to have little girls act nicelyhere, especially as I know that you have better manners if you choose touse them."

  Genie thought a moment, digging her toe into the rug, and at last said:

  "Good-morning, Mrs. Fayre. Please may I see Dolly?"

  "Why, what a little lady! Yes, indeed; you will find her in her room. Goright up, Genie, dear."

  The child trudged upstairs, and entered Dolly's room.

  "What do you want?" and Dolly, with suspiciously bright eyes, looked upfrom the book she was pretending to read.

  "You're not so awful polite, either," and Genie's big, black eyes lookedsharply at Dolly. "But never mind. I've come over to tell you that Dot'scryin' about you."

  "Did she tell you to come?"

  "Nope. She don't know I'm here. But I think you're two sillies to spoilyour nice birthday by crying about each other."

  "I'm not crying!"

  "Well, you have been. I can see the cry-marks in your eyes. Nice blueeyes. C'mon over and make up."

  "Get Dotty to come over here and make up."

  "She won't come."

  "Have you asked her?"

  "No, but I just know she won't. So let's don't ask her, and you comeover there."

  "You're a funny little thing, Genie! You know a lot, don't you?"

  "'Course I do. Come on, Dolly," and the child pulled at Doily's sleeve.

  "All right, I will," and the two went together over to the Rose house.

  Dotty in her room, heard Dolly's voice below stairs and came runningdown. Her anger was all past, and she was more than ready to be friendsagain.

  "Let's go out and see the tent," said Dolly, as the two met in the hall.

  "All right, let's," and out they went.

  "Did you fix it up, Genie?" said her mother, who had pretty much knownwhat was going on.

  "Yes'm, I fixed it up," and Genie ran after the black puppy, who withjudicial foresight was running away from her.

  "Tell me about the people who are coming, Dolly," said Dotty. "Who arethe nicest ones?"

  "You may not like the same ones I do; but Clara Ferris is my mostintimate friend of the lot."

  "As intimate as I am?"

  "Well, of course, I've known her so much longer, you see, she seems moreintimate."

  "But we're sort of twins, you know."

  "Only sort of; we're not really. Well, anyway, there's Celia and thenthere's Maisie May."

  "Maisie May! What a funny name!"

  "Well, it's her name all the same. And the two Rawlins girls, Grace andEthel."

  "Are they nice?"

  "Lovely. They live on the next block below us. Their brother is coming,too. Clayton, his name is."

  "What other boys?"

  "Oh, Reggie Stuart and Lollie Henry--"

  "Lollie! What a ridiculous name for a boy!"

  "His real name is Lorillard. He's an awfully nice boy. He plays thecornet in school sometimes for us to march by. Then there's Joe Collins.He's the funniest thing! Makes you laugh all the time. And a lot ofothers; I can't tell you about all of them."

  "Never mind; I'll catch onto them as they come. Do you think they'lllike me, Dolly?"

  "Of course they will; why wouldn't they?"

  "I don't know; but with such a lot of them, I feel kind of shy."

  "Pooh; Dot Rose, you couldn't be shy if you tried!"

  "It isn't shy, exactly; but I'm afraid they won't think I'm nice."

  "Oh, yes, they will; don't be silly. Anyway, some of them will. Andmaybe you won't like all of them. Everybody can't like everybody,--youknow."

  "No, I s'pose not. What do we do? Stand up to receive them?"

  "Of course! Did you think we sat down? Haven't you ever had a party?"

  "Not such a big one."

  "Well, I've had lots of 'em. We stand side by side, and I'll introduceeverybody to you. Of course, Mumsie and Trude will be around, and yourmother and your aunt,--won't they? Don't try to remember all theirnames, 'cause you can't, and you can pick them up later."

  "What a lot you know!" and Dotty looked at Dolly with a thoughtfuladmiration.

  "I know why," said Dolly, with a sudden flash of enlightenment; "it's'cause I have an older sister. Trudy is 'out,' you know, and I'm sort ofaccustomed to comp'ny; but you have a _little_ sister, so you haven'thad so much experience."

  "Yes, that's it," and Dotty comprehended. "All right, you can show me,and I'll do whatever you say."