“Oh, Madam Hammersly!” she said cheerfully, “I must bid you good-bye before I go. I hope you will get another girl to suit you better than I could—— What! Beth Baldwin? Are you doing my work?”
“No, Cynthia, I am doing my own work,” laughed Beth.
“And much better than I could ever do it, I warrant,” laughed the older girl. “Well, Madam, I know that you will be perfectly satisfied with Miss Baldwin. Good-bye!”
“That is not the door for the serving people to use, and you know it well, Cynthia,” said the madam, her voice shaking.
“Bless your dear heart! I know it,” and Cynthia’s laugh was mellow and her manner unruffled. “But I came in this way and I might as well depart like a lady too.”
Suddenly she seized the madam around the neck and planted a warm kiss upon either of her wrinkled cheeks. “You are a dear!” she repeated. “Good-bye!”
The next moment she had flashed through the open door and out over the porch and down the steps—just as a motor-car stopped before the door. Madam Hammersly stood, actually thunderstruck at the liberty Cynthia had taken, so only Beth saw the young man who alighted from the car.
The chauffeur was about to start again when Cynthia spoke to him, and then stepped into the tonneau and was whisked away. For a servant she certainly was departing in style from Rivercliff School.
But Beth was looking at somebody besides Cynthia. She saw the young man turn and stare after the departing girl; then he came slowly up the steps.
It was Larry Haven. He caught sight of Beth standing just inside the hall door and his face brightened. He sprang forward, exclaiming: