XVI
ABSENT-MINDEDNESS
“Oh, Nora, just think of it! I never was so surprised. Agnes is going to be married, and probably this autumn before we return to town. Oh, I wish that you could stay. A wedding is such fun!” and Brenda danced around waving a letter which she held in her hand.
“I’m afraid that I don’t understand. Agnes married! Why, I thought that she was in Paris,” responded Nora.
“Well, so she is, or she was. But she’s coming back. Probably she has sailed; let me see—‘if the passage is favorable, I may reach Boston by the sixth of August.’ Why, that is hardly a week! I wonder what she ’ll bring me. I’m sure it will be something lovely. She has such perfect taste!”
“But I did n’t know that she was engaged,” said Nora.
“Neither did I,” replied Brenda. “It’s one of the things that they did n’t tell me until the last minute. I believe mamma and papa have known for some time. He’s an artist, and they ’re going to live in Paris. He’s in New York now, and papa is going on to see him and meet Agnes next week. He came over by himself; but Agnes is coming back with the Waterfords. They ’ve been abroad for a year.”
