CHAPTER XIII
THE FAMILY MAKES REMARKS
Mr. Lee telephoned his wife that Betty would arrive when he did.Tired after a day of much thought upon business affairs and someconferences in the office, he listened to Betty's account, afterhaving asked her how she happened to be with "this young man." Bettygave him a full account, with a happy appreciation of the fun theyhad had.
"I'm not sure that you would approve of Mabel, Papa," she said, "butshe's the funny sort and it was all very nice. Jack seems to likeme--lately, and he did his best to make me have a good time. I hopeMother won't mind. I just couldn't resist going and I was lateanyhow, with all that going over and over of the parts we don't getjust right. You ought to hear the leader scold us. He makes us work,I tell you.
"Oh, I meant to telephone to Mother, but there wasn't any goodchance."
"I think that she will not mind, daughter," kindly said Mr. Lee. "Ofcourse, we prefer to know where you are, as you know. Tell me aboutthis lad. He is new to the school, you say?"
Betty explained. "And oh, I hope I may accept his invitation to hisbirthday party his mother's giving for him. I'm to get aninvitation, but Jack said that he wanted me to save the date."
"He must think that you are popular," smiled Mr. Lee. "I presumethat you may go. He seemed rather an engaging youth. I liked him. Asa rule, though, I don't want you to go driving with the boys yet."
"Yes, sir."
Dinner was being put on the table as the car was driven into thegarage and Betty and her father hastened to make themselves readyfor the meal. As her father picked up the carving fork and attackedthe steaming veal roast, he quietly remarked, "Betty seems to have anew boy friend."
Nothing could have been more startling than that remark, it seemedto Betty. She flushed in her surprise; Mrs. Lee turned a wonderinglook upon her husband, and Dick chortled. Doris sat up straight witha wide grin. Then, drawing her lips together and frowning slightlyshe remarked, "I'm surprised, Mr. Lee, to hear such an expressionfrom the head of the family. 'Boy friend' indeed! Papa, you'regetting quite too modern!"
An amused smile played about Mr. Lee's lips as he put a generoushelping of mashed potato by the slice of meat he was offering first."Modern, is it? Yes, I believe it is and I like it better than theold expressions. It does not seem to mean as much. But by the way,the true head of the family is opposite me. My dear, is the spinachto be put on the plates or served in dishes? I am never quite surehow some of these additions go."
"Served separately, I think," replied Mrs. Lee, with a twinkle ofher eyes to match those of her husband. "I am quite interested inyour news, though. Will Betty mind if you explain?"
"I could explain," said Doris decidedly.
Betty looked surprised again. Had Jack been with her so much thatDoris could notice? She felt quite annoyed, but it would callattention to the fact if she said anything. She smiled as her fatheroffered her the second plate, after serving her mother. "Fix thatfor Amy Lou, Daddy," she said. "And when you serve my plate,remember that I had a big lunch."
"Oh, you _did_!" exclaimed Doris. "Tell us about it, Betty; did JackHuxley treat you this afternoon?" Doris was very courteous in hermanner at this question.
"Yes, Dory. That was all there was of it. And Papa met him, youknow--so he feels facetious about it. Isn't that so, _mon cherpapa_?"
"She's talking French now," groaned Dick. "There must be somethingin it!"
"Don't be silly, Dick," said Betty. "If you'll all have somesense--I don't mean my respected parents, but you--you monkeys, Dickand Doris.
"And me," put in Amy Lou. "Is that the name of Betty's boy friend,Doris?"
"Now, Father, see what you've done!"
"Betty, I apologize," said Mr. Lee with a wave of his carving knife."I was just in fun, Amy Lou. Is that the way you like your potato,with a valley in it full of gravy?"
Amy Louise gravely nodded, while Mr. Lee heaped Dick's plate next.Whether Dick had had any lunch or cookies from the jar or not, itwould make no difference in his appetite for dinner. Betty was thelast served and while she waited she gave a rather brief butsatisfactory account of her little "lark," as she called it.
"Father said he thought it might be all right for once, Mother; andas Jack had just asked me to his birthday party, I wanted to do whathe wanted me to do. And oh, the suggestion of a sundae made my mouthwater! But we had much more than that."
After dinner Doris came into the bedroom where Betty was laying offher school dress. "I wouldn't say a word before the family, Betty,"said she, "but I've heard about Jack and of course I've seen youwith him. Some of the girls think he's wonderful even if he doesn'tpay any attention to anybody but you. And then I heard one of theboys say that he runs with a _wild set_ of the _society bunch_! Whatdo you think about it, Betty?"
"I don't know a thing against him, Doris, and I don't think a personought to believe anything bad without giving a friend a chance, doyou?"
"You could see that Father liked him," returned Doris. "I shouldimagine you could be friends with Jack Huxley and not hurt anythingat all. He has such nice manners; and when he is with you he is aspolite as can be."
"Yes, always, Doris."
"There's something about you, Betty, that makes the boys do that.They never get fresh or act silly as they do with some of thegirls."
"I don't like that expression, Doris--but I think boys know the kindof girls they're with; and besides, the kind of boys I like aren'tthat sort. I like fun, Dorry--you know that, but I like to talksense, too. That is one thing about Jack. You would laugh at some ofhis clever remarks; and then he can tell me about something just asif he were grown up and explaining, like Father."
"Do you like him better than Chet?"
"Don't _ask_ me, Doris. I don't like any of them as well as I doCarolyn!"
"Then you're safe for a while," laughed Doris.
"I'm always going to be safe," laughed Betty. "Imagine gettingengaged in high school and then finding somebody you liked muchbetter when you went to college! But Doris, I'm not going to pay anyattention to gossip about Jack. I'm sure he's a nice boy. He'sdifferent and I know he thinks some ideas that our people have are'old fogy,' but people can't be all alike and I believe in lettingother folks--well, they have the same right to their opinions thatwe have."
There was no one to remind Betty that opinions and action based uponthem are very likely to agree. Doris saw Betty's firmly set lips andnodded her head in assent to her sister's opinion. "Anyhow," saidDoris, "having Jack Huxley for a friend is going to give you somegood times and maybe Chet won't think he owns you."
Betty nodded. "Still, Doris," she said, honestly, "Chet has been avery good friend to me and I can't say that he's tried not to haveme accept any invitations from Budd or Brad or anybody--unless itwas Ted." Betty laughed and Doris, who remembered Ted's limitedperiod of invitation, was pleased that Betty should confide in her."He doesn't like Jack, though--but please don't say a word to thegirls about any of my doings, Doris."
"I won't and I think it's good of you to tell me about things.Didn't you say that you are going out to take dinner with Mrs.Dorrance and the boys tomorrow?"
"Yes--but there will be some other girls there, too, I think. Howwould you like it, if Mrs. Dorrance needs any more, to dress up andhelp in the booths, too!"
"Oh, Betty! I'd adore it!" Doris clasped her hands together as shespoke enthusiastically. "Would she _let_ me, do you suppose?"
"Don't be too disappointed if nothing happens, but if there is achance I'll not forget. Oh, Doris! Jack gave me a big, two pound boxof candy and I left it in our car. Ask Dick if he won't go out andget it and we'll all have a treat!"
Doris lifted two expressive hands at that speech. "Will I ask Dick?I will. And I'm Jack's friend for life!"
"Silly," laughed Betty, "run along!"
Doris stopped, holding to the door frame as she peeped back. "Onlygrown up boys do that for their best girls. You certainly areluck
y!"
Betty Lee, Junior Page 13
