But she was wondering what dress she would better wear Saturday afternoon , and if the new style of high hair-dressing would suit her better than the old ; and the walking party was rather spoiled for her . By night she had decided that she would wear her brown chiffon on Saturday , but would do her hair low . Friday afternoon none of the girls had classes at Redmond . Stella took the opportunity to write a paper for the Philomathic Society , and was sitting at the table in the corner of the living-room with an untidy litter of notes and manuscript on the floor around her . Stella always vowed she never could write anything unless she threw each sheet down as she completed it . Anne , in her flannel blouse and serge skirt , with her hair rather blown from her windy walk home , was sitting squarely in the middle of the floor , teasing the Sarah-cat with a wishbone . Joseph and Rusty were both curled up in her lap . A warm plummy odor filled the whole house , for Priscilla was cooking in the kitchen . Presently she came in , enshrouded in a huge work-apron , with a smudge of flour on her nose , to show Aunt Jamesina the chocolate cake she had just iced . At this auspicious moment the knocker sounded . Nobody paid any attention to it save Phil , who sprang up and opened it , expecting a boy with the hat she had bought that morning . On the doorstep stood Mrs. Gardner and her daughters . Anne scrambled to her feet somehow , emptying two indignant cats out of her lap as she did so , and mechanically shifting her wishbone from her right hand to her left . Priscilla , who would have had to cross the room to reach the kitchen door , lost her head , wildly plunged the chocolate cake under a cushion on the inglenook sofa , and dashed upstairs . Stella began feverishly gathering up her manuscript . Only Aunt Jamesina and Phil remained normal . Thanks to them , everybody was soon sitting at ease , even Anne . Priscilla came down , apronless and smudgeless , Stella reduced her corner to decency , and Phil saved the situation by a stream of ready small talk . Mrs. Gardner was tall and thin and handsome , exquisitely gowned , cordial with a cordiality that seemed a trifle forced . Aline Gardner was a younger edition of her mother , lacking the cordiality .
She endeavored XXXXX be nice , but succeeded only in being haughty and patronizing .
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