CHAPTER VI

PREPARING FOR THE PARTY

The evening of the party arrived.  It was quite a social event at Groveton, and the young people looked forward to it with pleasant anticipation.  Randolph went so far as to order a new suit for the occasion.  He was very much afraid it would not be ready in time, but he was not to be disappointed.  At five o’clock on Thursday afternoon it was delivered, and Randolph, when arrayed in it, surveyed himself with great satisfaction.  He had purchased a handsome new necktie, and he reflected with pleasure that no boy present—­not even Linton—­would be so handsomely dressed as himself.  He had a high idea of his personal consequence, but he was also of the opinion that “fine feathers make fine birds,” and his suit was of fine cloth and stylish make.

“I wonder what the janitor will wear?” he said to himself, with a curl of the lip.  “A pair of overalls, perhaps.  They would be very appropriate, certainly.”

This was just the question which was occupying Luke’s mind.  He did not value clothes as Randolph did, but he liked to look neat.  Truth to tell, he was not very well off as to wardrobe.  He had his every-day suit, which he wore to school, and a better suit, which he had worn for over a year.  It was of mixed cloth, neat in appearance, though showing signs of wear; but there was one trouble.  During the past year Luke had grown considerably, and his coat-sleeves were nearly two inches too short, and the legs of his trousers deficient quite as much.  Nevertheless, he dressed himself, and he, too, surveyed himself, not before a pier-glass, but before the small mirror in the kitchen.

“Don’t my clothes look bad, mother?” he asked anxiously.

“They are neat and clean, Luke,” said his mother, hesitatingly.

“Yes, I know; but they are too small.”

“You have been growing fast in the last year, Luke,” said his mother, looking a little disturbed.  “I suppose you are not sorry for that?”

“No,” answered Luke, with a smile, “but I wish my coat and trousers had grown, too.”

“I wish, my dear boy, I could afford to buy you a new suit.”

“Oh, never mind, mother,” said Luke, recovering his cheerfulness.  “They will do for a little while yet.  Florence didn’t invite me for my clothes.”

“No; she is a sensible girl.  She values you for other reasons.”

“I hope so, mother.  Still, when I consider how handsomely Randolph will be dressed, I can’t help thinking that there is considerable difference in our luck.”

“Would you be willing to exchange with him, Luke?”

“There is one thing I wouldn’t like to exchange.”

“And what is that?”

“I wouldn’t exchange my mother for his,” said Luke, kissing the widow affectionately.  “His mother is a cold, proud, disagreeable woman, while I have the best mother in the world.”