Do n't be foolish , Alec . '' But after that Cecily had cups of cream where the rest of us got only milk ; and Aunt Janet was very particular to see that she had her rubbers on whenever she went out . On this merry Christmas evening , however , no fears or dim foreshadowings of any coming event clouded our hearts or faces . Cecily looked brighter and prettier than I had ever seen her , with her softly shining eyes and the nut brown gloss of her hair . Felicity was too beautiful for words ; and even the Story Girl , between excitement and the crimson silk array , blossomed out with a charm and allurement more potent than any regular loveliness -- and this in spite of the fact that Aunt Olivia had tabooed the red satin slippers and mercilessly decreed that stout shoes should be worn . `` I know just how you feel about it , you daughter of Eve , '' she said , with gay sympathy , `` but December roads are damp , and if you are going to walk to Marrs ' you are not going to do it in those frivolous Parisian concoctions , even with overboots on ; so be brave , dear heart , and show that you have a soul above little red satin shoes . '' `` Anyhow , '' said Uncle Roger , `` that red silk dress will break the hearts of all the feminine small fry at the party . You 'd break their spirits , too , if you wore the slippers . Do n't do it , Sara . Leave them one wee loophole of enjoyment . '' `` What does Uncle Roger mean ? '' whispered Felicity . `` He means you girls are all dying of jealousy because of the Story Girl 's dress , '' said Dan . `` I am not of a jealous disposition , '' said Felicity loftily , `` and she 's entirely welcome to the dress -- with a complexion like that . '' But we enjoyed that party hugely , every one of us . And we enjoyed the walk home afterwards , through dim , enshadowed fields where silvery star-beams lay , while Orion trod his stately march above us , and a red moon climbed up the black horizon 's rim . A brook went with us part of the way , singing to us through the dark -- a gay , irresponsible vagabond of valley and wilderness . Felicity and Peter walked not with us . Peter 's cup must surely have brimmed over that Christmas night . When we left the Marr house , he had boldly said to Felicity , `` May I see you home ? ''
And Felicity , much to our amazement , had taken his arm and marched off XXXXX him .
On after between for like over through up while with