She had drawn a
slow breath of relief when this decision had been made known to her, and
had said fervently to Doctor Churchill:
"I expect I know how to make myself useful without being conspicuous,
and I'm sure I think enough of both of you not to put my foot into your
housekeeping. That child's worked pretty hard these four years since
I've known her, and a little vacation won't hurt her."
So it had been settled, and Mrs. Fields was now getting up a dinner for
her "folks," as she affectionately termed them, which was to be little
short of a feast.
Charlotte had written that she and Andy wanted the whole family to come
to dinner with them that first night. All day Celia and her mother had
been busy getting the little house, already in perfect order, into that
state of decorative cheer which suggests a welcome in itself. Now, with
Just's offering of ground-pine, and Celia's scarlet carnations all about
the room, a fire ready laid in the fireplace, and lamps and candles
waiting to be lighted on every side, there seemed nothing to be desired.
"I suppose there's really not another thing we can do," said Celia.
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