"And no wonder, after all those old papers have made you go through," grumbled Bess, as she followed the girls out into the hall. "I'm only surprised that we are not all dead by this time."
"Now all that we need to make us completely happy," chuckled Nan, recovering a little of her old spirits, "is to meet dear Linda. She always has such a pleasant effect upon people."
"Oh, we'll meet her all right, don't worry," said Bess gloomily. "She always turns up when she is least wanted."
After breakfast, Walter, shocked and worried as were all the rest over Nan's appearance, suggested that he take her and the other girls, if they wanted to go, for a little ride in the automobile.
Bess refused on the ground that she had to write some letters, but the other three said they would go. Mr. Mason had taken charge of Mrs. Bragley's papers, so that there was that much less for Nan to worry about. She was thankful for this, as she rather listlessly climbed into the back seat with Grace and Rhoda.
"Let's go, Walter," she said, as she sank back luxuriously into her corner. "And I don't very much care if we never get back."
Meanwhile, Bess was having an adventure all by herself. She went up to her room after the girls left and dutifully wrote two letters, one to her father and one to her mother.
Then, having had enough of duty for the present, she yawned and stretched and wondered when Walter and the girls were coming back—or whether they intended to stay all day.
Then an impish sprite of mischief whispered in her ear and her eyes danced merrily. On that chance meeting with Cora and Linda in the hall Cora had told her and Grace that they were staying in a suite of rooms on the third floor, and had asked them to come to see her and Linda.
And now, to while away the time till the girls' return, Bess proposed to take advantage of Cora's invitation and call upon her—and Linda.