"Why didn't I? I think it was because I was afraid if I made it so wholesale they would decline to come at all, and I thought once they did come it would be easy to persuade them to extend their visit, if it proved to be the best place for Miss Eloise."
"Oh, dear," sighed Jennie, "I just hate to think of her going back to that hot city. Isn't there some [67]way we could manage to make them stay somewhere, even if it were not at our house? Why couldn't they take a little cottage or bungalow or something and stay till school begins?"
"Even little cottages and bungalows cost something, and I am afraid they could not afford even the smallest of those."
"Oh, dear," Jennie sighed again. "I never before wanted school in summer time, but now I wish there were one that Miss Newman could teach in so they would have to stay."
"Why, my dear," exclaimed Mrs. Ramsey and then stopped suddenly.
"What were you going to say, Mother?"
"Nothing, only you have given me an idea. Mack, how much time have we?"
Mack glanced at the clock in front of him. "About half an hour, Mrs. Ramsey. It is just six."
"Then you can take me to the Point. Do you children want to go? I shall be making a business call only. Perhaps you'd better go home, for Miss Newman and Miss Eloise will think we have deserted them. I will be back to dinner. Just go as far as the gate, Mack. The children won't mind walking the rest of the way."
So the children were set down at the gate and the motor-car went off in a rush. This latest talk had driven all thoughts of Louis out of mind, and the three little girls began to discuss the porch [68]party with great eagerness. "I wonder if we may tell Miss Eloise," said Edna.