"Louis," was the laconic reply.
"I wouldn't think about him," said Miss Eloise with more spirit than she usually displayed.
"What that boy needs is to go to boarding school," said Miss Newman firmly. "He ought to be where there are a lot of other boys to teach him he is of no importance whatever."
"He was so unhappy at Uncle Justus's school that his mother says he shall never go away to school again," remarked Edna.
"Poor boy, then there is no hope for him," replied Miss Newman.
[97] Edna did not exactly understand what this meant, but she did not say so, but seeing she still looked very sober, Miss Eloise changed the subject, and began talking of Edna's friends, Dorothy and Jennie. "Why didn't you all play together, Edna?" she asked. "I thought you three little girls were inseparable."
Edna hung her head. She wanted to shield Louis, but at the same time she did not want to say anything against her two friends. Finally she compromised by saying, "Boys don't like to play with dolls."
"Oh, I see," said Miss Eloise with a smile, for Edna's words had given the key to the situation.
It was not long before Rudolph appeared with the surrey. He brought a warm coat of his sister's to wrap Edna up in, and they set off after Edna had given earnest thanks to her entertainers.