"Glorious!" said Jack, roused to enthusiasm at last. "It will be fine if Jamie, or 'Stub' as we call him, is along. When shall we start?"
"Christmas is next week, Thursday, Betty," said her mother. "Suppose we start about Tuesday and come home on Friday?"
"Just right!" said Betty. "And stay at a fine hotel and go to the shops--and the play? Oh, Mother, could we go to the play?"
"Yes, I think we'll go to a matinée," said her mother. "Do you think Mrs. Graham would spare both her children on Christmas day?"
"I don't know," said Betty, a little doubtfully, "but I'll ask her, and I know Agnes and Stub will be crazy to go, so prob'ly we can coax her into it."
Wheedlesome Betty did "coax Mrs. Graham into it," though that lady was loath to be separated from her son and daughter at the Christmas season. But the proposed trip was so tempting that permission was finally given, and the four young people were radiant with happiness at the prospect.
"I shall take Lisette," said Mrs. McGuire, speaking of her own maid, "and if I get too tired to take you children around to all the places you want to go to, she can go with you; she is thoroughly reliable and capable."
Tuesday proved to be a clear, cold day, and the party started off in high spirits. Of course the Grahams were Betty's guests for the whole trip.
Though Betty's large fortune, inherited from her paternal grandfather, was all her own, her mother had been appointed her guardian until she should come of age; and while conscientious and prudent as to expenditures, she also was determined that Betty should be allowed a goodly number of the harmless pleasures that her large income justified her having.
So when the New York trip was decided upon, Mrs. McGuire made every effort to give the children the most enjoyable time possible.
And it was for this reason she proposed taking the two Grahams as guests.
Lisette had been with her mistress a long time, and was well versed in looking after the luggage and all such details, so the party had nothing to do but enjoy every moment. But, noticing a tendency on Jack's part to make himself useful and attentive, Betty's mother wisely encouraged it, knowing it was for the boy's own good.
When they reached New York, the children, used to the quiet village life of Greenborough, were fascinated and almost bewildered by the noise and confusion. Jack had never been in New York before, and Betty only once, but the bustle and rush of the city appealed to them both, and many kindly people smiled as they noted the shining eyes and eager faces of the four friends.