“There’s a letter on the tray,” said Betty suddenly.  “No, not a letter, because there’s no stamp on it, but it’s for you, Ruth.”

Ruth picked it up and opened it.  Then she laughed and held it out to the girls, reading aloud as she did so.

The Candle Club Presents its compliments to The Cooking Club And requests the pleasure of its company Saturday, May eighteenth, At half-after six

The Club Room

“My, but they’re formal,” said Dorothy.  “Will you look at the elegance of ’half-after six’?”

“Jack did the invitations with his new typewriter, I suppose,” said Betty.  “I wonder how many sheets of paper he spoiled.”

“Of course we’ll all go,” said Charlotte, lazily pulling herself up from her seat on the ground.  “It’s perfectly lovely sitting here and drinking this delicious lemonade, and I hate to mention it, but I’ve got to get home, girls.  Betty, you ought to walk ’round my way to-night; I went with you last night.”

“Wait till I get the last drop out of my glass,” gurgled Betty, pulling away at her straw with great diligence.

“We’re all going,” added Dorothy.  “It’s almost six anyway.”

Ruth went with them to the front of the house and then back to the tennis ground to pick up racquets and balls.  It was so cool and still and beautiful in the garden that she sat down on the rug again with her hands clasped around her knees.  The old apple-tree covered with pink and white blossoms rustled softly overhead, a fat robin cocked his eye at her as he listened for worms, and from the other side of the garden came the faint, melodious tinkle of the little fountain.

Something flipped into the grass beside her and the robin flew away.

“It’s just a penny,” called a gay voice, “the one they’re always offering for your thoughts, you know.”

Ruth looked up as Arthur dropped down on the rug beside her.  “They’re worth so much more that I couldn’t let you have them for a penny,” she said with a laugh.

“Make it a spring bargain sale and give ’em to me at a great reduction,” he suggested.

“They were perfectly good thoughts,” answered Ruth.  “I was just wondering how I happened to drop down in such a lovely place, and why every one is so nice to me, and thinking how I shall miss you all when father sends for me.”

“Don’t begin to think about that,” protested Arthur quickly.  “You know you came for a year, a whole year.”

“I know,” laughed Ruth.  “I don’t believe you were a bit pleased when you heard that I was coming for a whole year.  I really think you’ve got used to me very nicely.”

“It’s astonishing how soon we get used to things that we know we must put up with,” said Arthur with a sigh of resignation.  “Oh, by the way, there’s something I forgot to tell you,” he added.

“What is it?” cried Ruth eagerly.

“You won’t tell the other girls, will you?”