Page:The Star in the Window.pdf/223

Rh along," he finished and Katherine hopped down and went back to her chair next to Reba's.

Reba was fully aware of what an event this was in Katherine's life. Going to France! Going to the great war! It was splendid—magnificent! But what about Chadwick Booth's dinner party next Saturday night? Katherine would be a third way across the Atlantic. O dear, there wouldn't be any dinner-party now!

But there was. Chadwick Booth attended to that. A European conflict mustn't be allowed to interfere with another dance such as that the other night, must it? No! He should say not, he laughed at Reba.

If Reba had hesitated at first, after an hour's reflection she was persuaded that it was a perfectly conventional thing to do. Dr. Booth had fully intended to ask Katherine Park (he had said so) and any party including Katherine was of course beyond reproach. Moreover, Dr. Booth was a friend of the Parks', and that was sufficient voucher to Reba that he was all things good and desirable. It would be presuming and prudish of one of her limited experience and bringing-up even to question the propriety of anything a man like Dr. Booth suggested, and she didn't want to appear prudish.

Of course there was that vague, dimming morning at the minister's to consider. But going to dinner with Dr. Booth was nothing that need trouble her conscience as far as Nathan was concerned, need it? Mrs. Remington, who was one of the guests at the Parks' a week ago, had quite readily accepted an invitation from that Tommy Blake to go to a concert with him