So I just pretended I was going to have a tea party . I cooked for it ... and decorated the table for it . . . and set it with my mother 's wedding china ... and I dressed up for it . '' Diana secretly thought Miss Lavendar quite as peculiar as report had pictured her . The idea of a woman of forty-five playing at having a tea party , just as if she were a little girl ! But Anne of the shining eyes exclaimed joyfuly , `` Oh , do YOU imagine things too ? '' That `` too '' revealed a kindred spirit to Miss Lavendar . `` Yes , I do , '' she confessed , boldly . `` Of course it 's silly in anybody as old as I am . But what is the use of being an independent old maid if you ca n't be silly when you want to , and when it does n't hurt anybody ? A person must have some compensations . I do n't believe I could live at times if I did n't pretend things . I 'm not often caught at it though , and Charlotta the Fourth never tells . But I 'm glad to be caught today , for you have really come and I have tea all ready for you . Will you go up to the spare room and take off your hats ? It 's the white door at the head of the stairs . I must run out to the kitchen and see that Charlotta the Fourth is n't letting the tea boil . Charlotta the Fourth is a very good girl but she WILL let the tea boil . ''
Miss Lavendar tripped off XXXXX the kitchen on hospitable thoughts intent and the girls found their way up to the spare room , an apartment as white as its door , lighted by the ivy-hung dormer window and looking , as Anne said , like the place where happy dreams grew .
Fourth Lavendar Of So as at for if to with