By lunch time the necessary brushing and doing up were ended.
But in stowing away the winter garments in the attic, our heroine was appalled at the confusion among the trunks.

The garret needed attention, and received it as soon as the noonday meal was dispatched.
At four o'clock, with the waitress' assistance, the task was completed.

About the same time a note arrived from John saying he would be obliged to bring two of his old friends--"swell bachelors"-- who were spending the day in town, to dine with him that night.

She "must not put herself to any trouble about dinner, and he would take them to the theatre in the evening." To the dinner already ordered were added oyster-pates, salad, with mayonnaise dressing, salted almonds, and, instead of the plain pudding that John liked, was a pie of which he was still more fond, capped by black coffee, all of which articles, except the last-named, were prepared by the hostess, who, in faultless toilette, with remarkably brilliant color, smilingly welcomed her husband and his guests to the half-past six dinner.

When they had gone to the theatre, and the mother had talked to her two sons of the day's school experiences, before they settled down to their evening of study, she returned to the dining-room, and, as Mary had a headache and had had a busy day, she assisted in washing and wiping the unusual number of soiled dishes, and in setting the breakfast table.