"We want to take care of Ellis's baby," chanted the two, and Mary coming in as a third repeated the words.
"But do you realize what it would mean? You would have to give up much of your playtime, and could not go off sailing or rowing or picnicking."
"We could go picnicking," insisted Polly, "because we could take the baby with us."
"Very well, we will leave out the picnic. I might get Luella to stay afternoons sometimes, but you know she goes home to help her mother, for Mrs. Barnes has more laundry work than she can do, and Luella has to help her when she can; those were the only terms upon which she would consent to come to me; so you see we can't count on Luella."
"It may not be for very long," said Polly, hopefully. "Leona may soon get well."
"If it is typhoid, as they suspect, she is likely to be ill a long time."
"Well, I don't care; I'll give up my afternoons," decided Polly.
"And I'll give up my mornings," said Molly, not to be outdone. "And then the baby does sleep some, so we can play while she is asleep. Oh, Polly, we could have lovely times playing with something alive like that."
"Wouldn't it be jolly to have a real live baby for a doll," put in Mary.
"I see you are not to be put off," said Miss Ada, laughing, "so I will allow you to undertake the charge for a week, and at the end of that time if I think it is too much for you, I shall have to insist that you give it up."