"Please, Aunt Dove, don't be frightened. They are not robbers, it's your own tenants you know, just taking a peep round. But they are going down now, and it's just dinner-time. Won't you come and see the entry?"
"Certainly not. I am quite upset enough. Our dinner is at half-past seven, and I hope you will be ready. As to all those common people tramping on my carpets----"
"Please don't let them hear you, Aunt Dove," pleaded Toney, "they would be so distressed, for, honour bright! they've behaved better than princes and princesses."
"I do not think your education or your bringing up ever brought you in contact with princes, Antonia--Miss Grossman, pray read on again, the maids are all taken from me and I shall not be able to dress till just before dinner."
Miss Grossman looked most unwilling to accede to the request.
"I do not object for once to reading for twenty minutes longer, Lady Dove, after that I must have my free time."
Toney did not wait to hear the stormy discussion that followed.
"It is lucky Aunt Dove won't appear," thought Toney. "Oh, Mr. Waycott, follow me on tip-toe, please, or a bomb will explode, but they have enjoyed themselves."
Lewis literally obeyed, and Toney, smothering her laughter, hurried downstairs with him.
Toney made a dash to her bedroom where Rose was waiting to help her into her white dress. It was very pretty and very simple, with soft lace round the base of the neck showing off the pose of the head and Toney's lovely hair.
"Miss Toney, you do look nice," exclaimed Rose, "what will you wear round your neck?"
"My birthday present of course--Pup's picture. You can't think how I value it."
"Won't you wear this coral bracelet for luck, Miss Toney?"
"Yes, it is Mrs. Faber's present, it belonged to her great aunt, whose dress I once wore when I first came," and Toney laughed at the recollection. "Now, I have not one minute more as uncle is going to walk me in. The people will like it so. They love a show-off. Run, Rose, and get ready for waiting on them. I wish I might do some of the waiting, but uncle wouldn't hear of it, and also it would look too much like a school feast. Oh, give me some of those flowers the dear people brought to-day. Wasn't it sweet of them, because they know I love flowers better than anything."