The holidays slipped away and Beth soon boarded the train again, finding jolly Molly Granger, by agreement, in one of the parlor cars. Molly had a warm invitation for Beth to spend a part of the summer vacation at Hambro.
“We’ll neither of us get home at Easter, you know,” Molly declared. “It’s too far to travel, and the time’s too short. And, as I tell the aunties, we’ve got to work.”
“I shall have to work, that is sure,” proclaimed Beth. “I’m afraid I spent too much money for Christmas presents. Oh dear!”
“How much money have you earned altogether?” demanded the curious Molly.
“I wouldn’t dare tell you. It might arouse your cupidity. And there’s only a door between us at school,” laughed Beth. “But I’ll tell you this: I put twenty-five dollars in the postal savings bank at Rivercliff before we came away.”
“Oh, cracky-me! What a lot!” cried Molly. “You’ll be a millionairess yet.”
“Not much, considering what I shall have to earn before next fall when Rivercliff opens again. We have to pay half the year’s fees in advance, you know.”
“I suppose it does mean a lot of work for you. My! the aunties think you are wonderful to do it.”
“Haven’t done it yet,” sighed Beth. “But I hope to.”
“Oh, I hope we’ll both have a better half year this time than the last.”