Sophia had told them that they looked like ninnies when they appeared not to know what people meant, and they could not endure the thought.
Sighed Blue at last, "Do you think it would be dreadfully wicked not to go ?" All the guests had passed them by this time, for they had loitered sadly.

It was not that they were not proud of their clothes; they were as proud as peacocks, and minced along; but then it was enough just to wear one's fine clothes and imagine that they might meet somebody who would admire them.
"Oh, Blue," said Red suddenly, withholding her steps, "suppose we didn't go, and were to walk back just a little later, don't you think we might meet-- ?" There was no name, but a sympathetic understanding.

It was Harkness of whom they thought.
"I'm sure he's a great deal better looking than young Mr.Brown, and I think it's unkind to mind the way he talks.

Since Winifred had her teeth done, I think we might just bow a little, if we met him on the road." "I think it would be naughty," said Red, reflectively, "but nice--much nicer than a grown-up picnic." "Let's do it," said Blue.

"We're awfully good generally; that ought to make up." The sunset cloud was still rosy, and the calm bright moon was riding up the heavens when these two naughty little maidens, who had waited out of sight of the picnic ground, judged it might be the right time to be walking slowly home again.
"I feel convinced he won't come," said Blue, "just because we should so much like to pass him in these frocks." Now an evil conscience often is the rod of its own chastisement; but in this instance there was another factor in the case, nothing less than a little company of half tipsy men, who came along from the town, peacefully enough, but staggering visibly and talking loud, and the girls caught sight of them when they had come a long way from the pleasure party and were not yet very near any house.