Two weeks later Marjorie was spending a stormy afternoon at the Burnams', when Ned appeared on the piazza.
"Hullo!" he exclaimed, as he furled his dripping umbrella, and shook himself out of his rubber coat. "You'd better believe I'm wet. Lou went off before it rained, and I had to pack her rubbers and umbrella over to her. It's no joke to walk a mile in such a pour."
"Where is she?" asked Allie, while she hospitably drew up a chair for her guest.
"Over the creek with that boy of hers. She puts in ever so much time there, since he's better. She says he's crazy to read and be read to, so she goes over 'most every day," responded Ned, as he wriggled away from the too exuberant caresses of Ben.
"How is he getting on?" inquired Marjorie.
"All right, as much as he can. Lou says he's bright and knows a good deal."
"How kind she's been to him!" said Allie thoughtfully. "And Charlie, too. He buys lots of things for him, and sends them over by Dr. Brownlee."
"Good for Charlie Mac! That's just like him," said Ned enthusiastically. "Where is he, anyhow?"
"We supposed he was over at your house with Grant," answered Howard from the corner where he sat, industriously whittling at a set of small wooden pegs.
"It must be nice to have money, and do all sorts of things like that," sighed Marjorie. "I can't afford to buy books and fruit, for I'm always short on my allowance; and mamma won't let me give up my lessons, even for one day, so I can't do what Miss Lou does."