"Soon, two weeks, perhaps."
"And then where will you go to live?"
"I do not know. Some neighbors perhaps will give me room for little. I shall try to go where is protection and retirement."
"But why not come here to us? We have room to spare, and at any rate, during our stay here, we should be glad to have you, and in the meantime you can be making plans for your future."
The señorita's gratitude was pathetic, though she looked more of it than she spoke, and so to Mary Lee's great joy it was arranged that the señorita should take up her residence with the Corner family, a fortunate thing as time proved, for even the simple accident of dropping a handkerchief can change the manner of one's whole life.
CHAPTER VII
AN ENCOUNTER
Mr. Pinckney had been away on a business trip to San Francisco and his return was hailed with joy by all the girls, Jack especially. To see his rotund figure approaching, to see the smile dawning upon his pleasant face as the four tumultuously rushed to welcome him was enough to warm the heart of a less amiable individual. Nan, with her long dark braids swinging, was in the lead, she being the tallest; Jack never failed to be a close second as she pushed her unruly locks from her eyes or clutched an escaping hair ribbon; Mary Lee, neat and orderly came next, and little Jean, whose ribbons were always in place, brought up the rear.
"Well, well, well," cried Mr. Pinckney as welcoming shouts of "Mr. St. Nick! Mr. St. Nick!" greeted his ears, "here you all are and here I am back again."
Jack precipitated herself into his arms. "I am so glad to see you," she cried.