As each girl was presented to him he shook hands with her in a hearty, whole-souled way that completely dispelled any feeling of constraint on her part.
"Father, you may take Elfreda in to dinner to-night.

To-morrow it will be some one else's turn.

I hope you will be here to enough meals to go the round." "So do I," laughed Mr.Ashe, the stern look on his face disappearing, his brown eyes looking almost boyish.
Dinner proved a merry meal.

The usually quiet room rang with the gay laughter of the happy girls, who had planned to enjoy every hour of their holiday.

When dinner was over, Mr.Ashe ceremoniously invited them to be his guests at a theatre party that night.
"We'll have to make one evening dress do duty while we are here, Mabel.
We had room in our suit cases for only one, and didn't want to bring trunks," explained Grace, as they lingered in the hall to talk for a moment before going to their rooms to dress.
"Never mind, if you run out of gowns you can wear mine," offered Mabel.
"That is, you and Miriam can.