`` Oh , nothing , '' sobbed Miss Ponsonby , `` only -- only -- I 'm invited to the party tonight -- Susan Hubbard is my cousin , you know -- and I would like so much to go . '' `` Then why do n't you ? '' said Jerry briskly . `` My father wo n't let me , '' said Miss Ponsonby , swallowing a sob as if she were a little girl of ten years old . Jerry had to dodge behind the curtain to hide a smile . `` It 's too bad , '' I said sympathetically , but wondering a little why Miss Ponsonby seemed so worked up about it . I knew she had sometimes been invited out before and had not been allowed to go , but she had never cared apparently . `` Well , what is to be done ? '' I whispered to Jerry . `` Take Miss Ponsonby to the party with us , of course , '' said Jerry , popping out from behind the curtain . I did n't ask her if she expected to fly through the air with Miss Ponsonby , although short of that I could n't see how the latter was to be got out of the house without her father knowing . The old gentleman had a den off the hall where he always sat in the evening and smoked fiercely , after having locked all the doors to keep the servants in . He was a delightful sort of person , that old Mr. Ponsonby . Jerry poked her head as far as she could out of the window . `` Miss Ponsonby , you are going to the dance , '' she said in a cautious undertone , `` so do n't cry any more or your eyes will be dreadfully red . '' `` It is impossible , '' said Miss Ponsonby resignedly . `` Nothing is impossible when I make up my mind , '' said Jerry firmly . `` You must get dressed , climb down that acacia tree , and join us in our yard . It will be pitch dark in a few minutes and your father will never know . '' I had a frantic vision of Miss Ponsonby scrambling down that acacia tree like an eloping damsel .
But Jerry was in dead earnest , and really it was quite possible XXXXX Miss Ponsonby only thought so .
about after as before if in of off to with