Two Little Women on a Holiday | Page 9

I knew you," Mrs. Berry said, and her kindly grey eyes
beamed at them both. "Now I must learn to tell you apart. Dolly with
golden hair,--Dotty with black. Is that it?"
"Is Alicia here?" asked Bernice, eagerly.
"No; she's coming in at the other station. She won't arrive for an hour or
more. Where are your checks? Let George take them."
The footman took the checks and looked after them, while Mrs. Berry
piloted the girls to the waiting motor-car.
It was a large and very beautiful limousine, and they all got in, and
were soon rolling up Fifth Avenue.
"How splendid it all is!" exclaimed Dolly, looking out at the crowds." It
seems as if we must get all snarled up in the traffic, but we don't."
"Kirke is a very careful driver," said Mrs. Berry, "and he understands
just where to go. How you've grown, Bernice. I haven't seen you for
two years, you know."
"Yes, I have. We're all getting to be grown-ups, Mrs. Berry. Isn't
Alicia?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her for a long time. But she's at a very
fashionable school, so I suppose she is full of notions."
"What are notions?" asked Dolly, smiling up into the speaker's eyes.
"Oh, notions," and Mrs. Berry laughed, "well, it's thinking you know it
all yourself, and not being willing to listen to advice. I don't believe
you have notions, Dolly."
"No, she hasn't," said Bernice. "But Dotty and I have! However, I
promised Dad I'd obey you, Mrs. Berry, in everything you say, so I
don't believe you'll have any trouble with us."
"Land, no! I don't expect any. Now, let me see; I've two big rooms for

you all, with two beds in each. I suppose you'll room with your cousin,
Bernice, and these other two girls together?"
"Yes, indeed," said Dolly, quickly, for she had no idea of rooming with
any one but Dotty.
"That settles itself, then."
"But suppose I don't like Alicia," said Bernice, doubtfully. "Suppose
we quarrel."
"All right," and Mrs. Berry nodded her head, "there are other rooms. I
don't want you to be uncomfortable in any particular. I thought you'd
like it better that way. The two rooms I've fixed for you, are two big
ones on the second floor. Mine is on the same floor, in the rear. Your
uncle's rooms are upon the third floor,"
"I think it sounds fine," declared Bernice, "and I'm sure I'll get on with
Alicia, if she does have 'notions.'"
And then they reached the big house on upper Fifth Avenue, and as
they entered, Dolly felt a little appalled at the grandeur everywhere
about her. Not so Dotty. She loved elegance, and as her feet sank into
the deep soft rugs, she laughed out in sheer delight of being in such
beautiful surroundings. Mrs. Berry took the girls at once to their rooms,
and sent the car for Alicia.
"I'll give the front room to Dotty and Dolly," she said to Bernice; "and
you can have the other. It's quite as nice, only it looks out on the side
street, not on the Avenue."
"That's right, Mrs. Berry. Dot and Dolly are more company than Alicia
and I are. We're really members of the family. I was so surprised at
Uncle Jeff's inviting us. Why did he do it, anyway?"
"Why, indeed!" said Mrs. Berry, but her expression was quizzical. "No
one can tell why Mr. Forbes does things! He is a law unto himself.
Now, girls, your trunks are coming up. And here are two maids to

unpack for you and put your things away. You can direct them."
Mrs. Berry bustled away, and two neat-looking maids appeared, one of
whom entered Bernice's room and the other attended on Dot and Dolly.
"Which frocks shall I leave out for dinner?" the maid asked, as she
shook out and hung up the dresses in the wardrobe.
"The blue voile for me," replied Dolly, "and--er--what is your name?"
"Foster, miss," and she smiled at Dolly's gentle face.
"And the rose-coloured voile for me," directed Dotty. "You'll find,
Foster, that our frocks are pretty much alike except as to colour."
"Yes, ma'am. And these patent leather pumps, I daresay?"
"Yes, that's right," and Dotty flung herself into a big easy-chair and
sighed in an ecstasy of delight that she really had a ladies' maid to wait
on her. Dolly didn't take it so easily. She wanted to look after her own
things, as she did at home. But Dotty motioned to her not to do so, lest
Foster should think them inexperienced or countrified.
Their simple belongings were soon in place, and the two D's wandered
into Bernice's room.
Here everything was helter-skelter. Finery was piled on beds and chairs,
and hats