“We will,” they cried in a breath, “and we would have come a long time ago if you only hadn’t forgotten to invite us till so late.  What made you, Bobby?”

“Why I didn’t!” said Bobby in a surprised tone.  “I took your invitation over to your front door and—­and—­your bell is pretty high up—­”

“Yes, I can’t reach it at all,” said Beth breathlessly; “go on.”

“So I shoved it under the door—­”

Ethelwyn disappeared like a flash, and, sure enough, under the carpet’s edge she could see sticking out the little white corner of the envelope.  She knelt down and pulled it out, then ran back.

“We’ll come right over in a minute, Bobby,” she called happily.  “We’re pretty nearly all dressed for fear you’d remember you had forgotten—­”

“All right, hurry up,” called up Bobby.

Down on the floor went Soosana, all damp with tears, but she still smiled broadly at the ceiling in the dark.  She probably did not, if the truth were known, quite enjoy being used as a handkerchief, but she felt it was her mission in this life to act as comforter, and so she bore it with cheerfulness.  The next morning she was told by happy, though sleepy, Beth that it was a “beyewtiful party, with fireworks, and ice cream, and dancing, and games, and souvenirs.  I should never have been so happy again, Soosana, if I had missed going, I know,” she concluded, kissing Soosana with such fervor, that she put a dent in that portion of her doll’s head where she had been kissed; but this time Soosana was sure she did not care.

CHAPTER XVI The Mail and Ethelwyn’s Visit

    Good-bye, speed by
      Days till we meet again. 
    Hearts’ ease, ne’er cease,
      Keep free from fret or pain.

There had come an interesting mail that morning, for it began with another letter from Cousin Gladys, who was in London now for the winter, and there was also one from Aunty Stevens and from Grandmother Van Stark.  While the two children ate their oatmeal and cream, they read their cousin’s letter.  This was it: 

     “DEAR COUSINS: 

     “We have seen the Coronation, and my eyes ached, there was so much
     to see and do.  It was worse than a circus with six rings.

“The King is not pretty, but I suppose that won’t hinder him from being good, and nurse is always saying, ’Pretty is that pretty does, Miss Gladys.’  I think she thinks that the two hardly ever go together.  The dear Queen is pretty, however, and so young-looking and sweet that even nurse has to give in about her.

“I will tell you all about it when we come home, but it tires me now even to think about it.  One morning I begged to go back to the hotel and rest, and nurse was so disappointed that I told her she could go out and I would stay alone.  I dug around in my trunk and got rather homesick, looking at the things I had at home.