Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/232

216 when Caroline was married, because I was so very little then, but now—”

“Brenda, Brenda, I have something to show you; ask Nora to come, too.”

“Yes, mamma,” and the two girls ran upstairs to see a photograph, which had just arrived, of Mr. Weston.

“Oh, he is handsome, is n’t he! Agnes did n’t exaggerate,” and Brenda handed the picture to Nora for a closer examination.

“I have decided to go to New York myself, Brenda,” said Mrs. Barlow, when the girls had expressed themselves  fully on the subject of the photograph. “Your father thinks that it will not be too hot for me, and Agnes has  been away so long that I feel that I cannot see her soon  enough.”

Now while this little ripple of excitement was passing over the Barlow family, Amy felt herself neglected by  her friends. The reading club had failed to meet one day because Mrs. Barlow and the girls had been invited  to Magnolia; and on the day of the departure of her  parents for New York, Brenda had gone up to town,  ostensibly to see them off. But, as Nora and Julia accompanied her, they managed to make the occasion a pleasure trip, by having luncheon at the Mayflower, and  going down town afterwards to assist Mrs. Barlow in  her shopping.

As Mr. and Mrs. Barlow were to take the six o’clock train, the girls did not actually see them off, but, instead,  were sent back to Rockley at five o’clock, rather tired,