“Oh! all right,” answered the boy, and got out quickly to crank up.
Linda tossed her head as Nan followed Grace down the front steps. “That is what it means, eh?” she whispered to Cora. “That poverty-stricken Nan Sherwood! I wonder if Walter knows he’s taking out a pauper in that handsome car.”
“Oh! maybe Nan isn’t quite a pauper,” said Cora doubtfully.
“Yes, she is! And a thief! Or, she tried to be——”
“You know Mrs. Cupp warned you about repeating that story, Linda,” said Cora, hastily.
“Well! just the same there’ll be another story to tell,” muttered Linda, watching the automobile party get under way with envious eyes. “I’ll just fix that Nan Sherwood; you see!”
In the automobile Walter found time to say to Nan, when Grace could not hear: “I’m awfully sorry you’re in trouble, Nan. I wish I could help you. We all like you tremendously. You know that, don’t you?”
“I believe you mean it, Walter,” said Nan, winking fast to keep back the tears. “And it’s just dear of you to say so. Thanks!” and Nan pressed the boy’s offered hand warmly.
The Grand Guard Ball, a social event that shook Freeling and the surrounding towns to their social centre, was to be held on this evening. The older girls of Lakeview Hall were usually allowed to attend the assembly under the care of one or two teachers. Sometimes Dr. Beulah Prescott herself attended the ball.
Nan did not really care to go; but Bess insisted, and would not go without her. Mrs. Harley had seen to it that both girls had pretty party dresses, and these compared well with the frocks worn by the other girls who filled Charley’s old omnibus and the several automobiles that transported the pupils from Lakeview Hall to the ball.