Ida had hastened away when she had seen the two younger girls coming because there still were traces on her cheeks of the burning caused by the patent "beautifier," and she seemed more afraid of the comments of the younger girls, than of her own classmates.
As the two girls entered the hall they saw that the tall clock marked the time as quarter-past five.
"Fifteen minutes to fix up just a bit," said Betty. "Come on!"
They raced up the stairs and soon reached their room.
Valerie was ready first, because Betty had found a letter waiting for her, and promptly sat down to read it.
"You'd better not stop to read it," cautioned Valerie, "for when we came in we had only fifteen minutes to—"
But just then Betty gave a little cry of delight.
"Oh-oo! Just listen to this!" she cried. "Father says we are to go to the shore this summer just for a change, and already he has rented the summer place." She clapped her hands, and laughed with sheer happiness.
"Oh, I'm so glad to hear that to-night. I do believe I'll dream about it," she said.
The half-hour for social chat was over, and dinner was half through when Patricia and Arabella entered the dining-room.