Two Little Women on a Holiday | Page 2

it in.
"Go to New York, for a week. Oh, I couldn't. I have to go to school."
Mrs. Rose smiled. "That's just the trouble, Dolly. Dot has to go to
school, too,--at least, she ought to. Bernice, likewise. But this invitation
is so delightful and so unusual, that I'm thinking you three girls ought
to take advantage of it. The question is, what will your parents say?"
"Oh, they'll never let me go!" exclaimed Dolly, decidedly. "They don't
want anything to interfere with my lessons."
"No, and we feel the same way about Dotty. But an exceptional case
must be considered in an exceptional manner. I think your people might
be persuaded if we go about it in the right way."
"I don't believe so," and Dolly looked very dubious. "Tell me more
about it."

"Oh, Doll, it's just gorgeous!" broke in Bernice. "Uncle Jeff,--he's
father's brother,--wants me to spend a week with him. And he's going to
have my cousin, Alicia, there at the same time. And he wants us to
bring two other girls, and Alicia can't bring one, 'cause she's at
boarding school, and none of the girls can get leave,--that is, none that
she wants. So Uncle said for me to get two, if I could,--and I want you
and Dot."
"A whole week in New York! Visiting!" Dolly's eyes sparkled as the
truth began to dawn on her. "Oh, I WISH I could coax Mother into it.
I've never been to New York to stay any time. Only just for the day.
How lovely of you, Bernie, to ask us!"
"There's no one else I'd rather have, but if you can't go, I'll have to ask
Maisie May. I must get two."
"Are you going anyway, Dots?"
"I don't know. I want to go terribly, but I don't want to go without you,
Dolly. Oh, WON'T your mother let you?"
"The only way to find out is to ask her," said Mr. Forbes, smiling.
"Suppose I go over there now and ask. Shall I go alone, or take you
three chatterboxes along?"
"Oh, let us go," and Dotty sprang up; "we can coax and you can tell
about the arrangements."
"Very well," agreed Mr. Forbes, "come along, then."
So the four went across to the Fayre house, and found the rest of
Dolly's family gathered in the library.
"Here is Mr. Forbes, Daddy," said Dolly, as they entered.
Mr. and Mrs. Fayre and Trudy, Dolly's older sister, greeted the visitor
cordially, and looked with smiling inquiry at the eager faces of the
three girls.

Dolly went and sat on the arm of her mother's chair, and, putting an
arm around her, whispered, "Oh, Mumsie, please, PLEASE do say yes!
Oh, please do!"
"Yes to what?" returned Mrs. Fayre, patting her daughter's shoulder.
"Mr. Forbes will tell you. Listen."
"It's this way, my dear people," began Mr. Forbes. He was a man with
an impressive manner, and it seemed as if he were about to make a
speech of grave importance, as, indeed, from the girls' point of view, he
was. "My brother Jefferson, who lives in New York, has invited my
daughter to spend a week in his home there. He has asked also another
niece, Miss Alicia Steele. He wants these girl visitors to bring with
them two friends, and as Alicia does not wish to avail herself of that
privilege, Bernice may take two with her. She wants to take Dotty and
Dolly. There, that's the whole story in a nutshell. The question is, may
Dolly go?"
"When is this visit to be made?" asked Mrs. Fayre.
"As soon as convenient for all concerned. My brother would like the
girls to come some day next week, and remain one week."
"What about school?" and Mrs. Fayre looked decidedly disapproving of
the plan.
"That's just it!" exclaimed Dotty. "We knew you'd say that! But, Mrs.
Fayre, my mother says this is the chance of a lifetime,--almost,--and we
ought, we really OUGHT to take advantage of it."
"But to be out of school for a whole week,--and what with getting ready
and getting home and settled again, it would mean more than a week--"
"But, mother, we could make up our lessons," pleaded Dolly, "and I
DO want to go! oh, I do want to go, just AWFULLY!"
"I should think you would," put in Trudy. "Let her go, mother, it'll be

an education in itself,--the visit will. Why, the girls can go to the
museums and art galleries and see all sorts of things."
"Of course we can," said Bernice, "and my uncle has a beautiful house
and motor cars and everything!"
"That's another point," said Mr. Fayre, gravely. "You must realise, Mr.
Forbes, that my little girl is not accustomed to grandeur and wealth. I