“Oh, I am sure of that,” responded the girl earnestly.
The two ladies had settled about the studies and the music and Mrs. Barrington explained a little plan. All the girls would be in by Saturday and she thought it would be well to introduce Marguerite in her new circumstances. She would, therefore, give a little dinner at which the sisters should be the guests of honor. That would prevent any gossip or comment and give Marguerite that home feeling with the other students. Mrs. Crawford assented cordially.
“And now, we must go or we will be late for lunch. I can never thank you enough for your kindly interest in my dear girl when she came to you an unknown stranger and if anything should happen to me, for I have wondered if one could be so happy and enjoy it for long, I should want you always to be her friend.”
“You may depend upon that, but the good days are only the outgrowth of patiently borne bad ones; beauty for ashes.”
Mrs. Crawford was very bright at luncheon. She announced to Zaidee Mrs. Harrington’s plan for the informal dinner.
“Why, I think it excellent,” declared Zaidee. “You see, we should both be questioned. It’s awfully tiresome to have to tell an occurrence over and over and Mrs. Barrington would carry conviction. I hope you won’t mind, Marguerite. See what it is to be a heroine.”
“I was nearly killed with Miss Nevins and wouldn’t it be a good thing to refer curious people to Mrs. Barrington?”
Marguerite glanced up with a half smile.
“We have to pay the penalty for any unusual happenings,” said their father. “I think I should feel interested if this had occurred in the home of a neighbor. So we will not set it down to idle curiosity. Even I had to be convinced that it was not mere hearsay.”
As they were leaving the room Miss Crawford said in a low tone, “Margaret—don’t you need some shopping or planning done?”