LITMIR.BIZ

      It took all the bravery Felicity could muster to walk back into Miss Manderly’s house the next day.

      Miss Manderly greeted her with a smile. “Good day, Miss Merriman,” she said. “I am exceedingly glad to see you today.”

      “Thank you, Miss Manderly,” Felicity said. She sat down and went to work on her sampler. She did not speak to Elizabeth or Annabelle. They did not speak to her.

      “Why, Felicity, how lovely,” said Miss Manderly. “I see that you have indeed stitched a red cardinal bird at the top of your sampler. It looks just like our proud Virginia cardinals!”

      “Oh!” said Elizabeth. “It is pretty, Lissie.” She looked at Felicity shyly. “Would you mind, I mean, do you think it would be all right if I stitched one just like it on my sampler?” she asked.

      “Bitsy!” scolded Annabelle.

      Elizabeth whirled around and faced Annabelle. “I hate being called Bitsy,” she said firmly. “From now on, call me Elizabeth.”

      “Why, I—” sputtered Annabelle.

      “Or I will call you Bananabelle in front of everyone,” said Elizabeth. “Annabelle, Bananabelle.”

      For once, Annabelle was speechless. Elizabeth grinned at Felicity. Felicity felt her spirits rise like a bird. Elizabeth is still my friend, she thought. She smiled at Elizabeth.

      Miss Manderly smiled, too. “Well, Elizabeth,” she said. “Will you do us the honor of serving tea this afternoon?”

      “Yes, indeed!” said Elizabeth.

      Felicity’s heart pounded as she took her place at the tea table. This was the moment she dreaded. How could she refuse tea without being rude? She watched Elizabeth measure the tea and pour the hot water into the teapot. She watched as Elizabeth handed each of them a teacup, saucer, and spoon. Then Elizabeth began to fill the teacups. She poured Miss Manderly’s cup without spilling a drop. She poured Annabelle’s cup and offered her the sugar. Felicity’s cup was next.

      Felicity took a deep breath. Very gracefully, she turned her teacup upside down on the saucer and put her spoon across it. “Thank you, Elizabeth,” she said politely in a clear, strong voice. “I shall take no tea.”

      “Well done,” said Miss Manderly softly.

      Elizabeth smiled. “Perhaps you’d like a queen cake,” she said as she handed the plate to Felicity.

      “I’d prefer a plain biscuit,” said Felicity as she smiled back at her friend. “I’ve no loose teeth to worry about today!”

      An Invitation to the Palace

       CHAPTER 11

      elicity ran along the frozen path as if she were running toward Christmas. Then quick! She turned sideways and slid, slick as a fish, across a smooth stretch of ice. “Try sliding!” she called back to Nan. “It’s fast! I’m going to do it again!”

      Nan grinned but shook her head. “We shouldn’t slide, Lissie. It isn’t proper,” she said. “And anyway, you know we promised Mother we wouldn’t play. We said we’d come straight home after we cut enough holly to fill our baskets.”

      “Very well,” said Felicity cheerfully. She knew Nan was right, as usual. Besides, she had already spotted more clear patches of ice ahead. So she ran and slid, ran and slid, while Nan trotted along behind, carefully picking up the holly sprigs that fell out of Felicity’s basket.

       “Mother! William!” called Felicity as she and Nan burst into the house. “Come see the holly we’ve cut. ’Tis ever so full of berries!”

      Mrs. Merriman and little William hurried to greet the girls.

      “Look at all the holly!” said William. “A lot and a lot!”

      Mrs. Merriman smiled. “My two Christmas sprites!” she said. “You have done a fine job. The holly is perfect. Now I can work Christmas magic on the house. But look at you! Your noses are as red and cold as the holly berries.

      “Go sit yourselves by the fire. Lissie, take your shoes off first. Don’t track that muddy slush into the parlor.” She scooped up William with one arm and the two holly baskets with the other. “Later, you can help me decorate. It will be a fine surprise for your father and Ben.”

      Just then, they heard polite knocking on the door. “Oh, Lissie,” said Mrs. Merriman. “My hands are full. Do please answer the door.”

      “Yes, Mother,” said Felicity. The floor was slippery, and she slid a little as she hurried to the door. When she opened it, she stepped back in surprise. “Goodness!” she gasped.

      There stood a very elegantly dressed man. He bowed to Mrs. Merriman. “Good day, madam,” he said. “Do I have the honor of addressing the wife of Mr. Edward Merriman?” Felicity’s mother nodded, and the man held out a letter. “This is for you, madam,” he said.

      Mrs. Merriman quickly put William and the holly baskets down and took the letter. “Thank you,” she said as the man left. “Good day to you.”

      Felicity, Nan, and William crowded close to Mother as she untied the red ribbon and opened the letter. “Why, Lissie!” she exclaimed. “It is from Lady Dunmore, the royal governor’s wife. It’s an invitation for you.”

      “Me?” gasped Felicity.

      “Just listen,” said Mrs. Merriman. She cleared her throat and read the invitation. “Lady Dunmore presents her compliments to Mrs. Merriman and requests the favor of her daughter Felicity’s attendance at a dancing lesson at the Palace on Saturday, January seven at four o’clock.”

      “Oooh,

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