She ran to her purse and reassured herself it was there.
“We’ll pay you back, Chloe.”
“Don’t worry. It’s all in the family.”
The girls were beginning to feel like a family, really. Their schedules had smoothed out, they were accustomed to each other’s individuality, the ugly head of rivalry and jealousy which leered the first few days had withdrawn. They enjoyed each other and shared their food, spending money, and now for the first time they were wearing each other’s clothes.
Mimi, of course, had a beautifully tailored habit. She had taken good care of her patent leather boots. The other girls had jodphurs, so by exchanging blouses and sweaters a few times they managed to fit themselves out becomingly. Chloe had the worst time of all. Everything she had on but her jodphurs was borrowed. She had never been on a horse in her life. She wasn’t too keen on the idea but tried not to show how she felt, Mimi guessed.
“We’ll take good care of you, Chloe. I can give you a few pointers that will help you. So can Miss Bassett. We’ll all ride slowly and keep together. We’ll have a grand time.”
They did have a grand time; although, Chloe and Sue both limped the next two or three days when no one was looking.
When they returned they stopped in the Post Office. That was one place Mimi never passed without peeking in. Although, she knew exactly when the mail was put up she always had a hopeful feeling. Today she was not disappointed. There was a big fat letter from Mother Dear. Mimi dropped her hat and crop and ripped the letter open.
“Wait ’till Olivia sees this stamp,” she said. “She’ll go wild.”
Mimi devoured every word of the letter. She trailed the other girls on up to Tumble Inn for the second reading which was usually aloud. Sue, particularly enjoyed news of Mimi’s family.