"Let's make a list of what you'll want for the journey," said Judith, setting to work with a will, "then you sort and I'll pack."
"Jack and Tom are coming to-night," said Nancy, bursting into the "Jolly Susan" a little later, holding an open letter in her hands. "Isn't Miss Meredith a brick? She sent them special invitations when I told her Jack was still in town."
Nancy looked excited and beckoned Judith into her room where she pointed to two violet-coloured boxes.
"They've sent us the loveliest flowers," she said in a low tone; "it's a shame we can't have them at prize-giving, but only the Sixth carry flowers--let's put them in water and we'll wear them to-night at the play."
Judith took off the wrappings. "AREN'T they adorable? I never saw such darling little roses--how AWFULLY nice of them!"
Judith had never had flowers sent to her before and she felt that it was quite an occasion, and in some mysterious way marked the fact that she was growing up and next year would be in the Sixth. It WAS exciting.
"The play's to begin at seven sharp," called Jane. "Did you see the notice?--early lunch and an hour's quiet before prize-giving. What a bore!"
"I'll be glad of it," said Sally May. "I'm not altogether sure of some of my speeches. I know I'm going to be fearfully nervous."
"I'll hear you after lunch," said Judith--"'I have a high respect for your nerves, Mrs. Bennet. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least!'"
"I believe you know at least half of 'Pride and Prejudice' by heart," said Nancy admiringly.
"Well, not half," Judith laughed, "but I love it. I'd rather play Elizabeth myself than any other part I know, and so I'm just crazy glad that Catherine's going to do it. Miss Marlowe didn't want to give Catherine another heavy part after being Viola and she tried Helen and Esther, but they simply couldn't do it. Catherine is too sweet for words. You should hear her say to Mr. Collins, 'Do not consider me now as an elegant female, intending to plague you!' Catherine an elegant female! Mr. Collins is simply killing. I do hope Eleanor will be careful of the coat--it's really too tight for her."
"You're a brick, Judy," said Josephine appearing in the doorway. "The trunk is ready for Brodie. My word, what stunning roses! No, don't tell me who sent 'em. I'll have three guesses."