“Yes, for Pete’s sake,” Amelia exploded, “What have you got on your mind? You and Rhoda have been going around the last two days looking as though you knew the answer to why Dr. Beulah wanted to know if our parents were at home this winter. What a question that was! I wrote home right away to find out what was up. What happened? Nothing. I don’t even get an answer.”
“What’s more, I don’t either,” Rhoda joined in. “Do you know I haven’t had a letter from my mother for two weeks now! I hope that if Dr. Beulah has something to write home, she is getting more response than I am.”
“Oh, we’re all neglected,” Laura dismissed the question. “What I want to know is, what have you two companions in mystery cooked up now? Come on, spill it,” she looked menacingly at Bess.
Bess turned to Rhoda, “You tell them,” she said.
Rhoda shook her head, “No, it’s your idea. Come, Bess, they are dying to know.”
Bess cleared her throat. “Well—”, and she looked around the room at the girls sitting on the chairs and cross-legged on the floor. It was nice to be there holding their attention.
“Bess Harley,” Laura threatened, “Don’t you go trying to pull any of my stunts. It’s all right for me to go round working up suspense, but I won’t have you doing it. I can’t stand it. Are you going to tell what’s eating you, or aren’t you?”
Bess got up, went to the door and looked up and down the hall, “Just want to make sure that Linda Riggs isn’t around,” she explained.
“Oh, she’s not here at all now and you know it,” Laura laughed. “Come on, you tell us your secret and I’ll tell you really and truly what Grace and Amelia and I were doing down in the village this afternoon.”
Bess looked doubtful. “She will, honestly,” Grace couldn’t contain herself any longer. “If she doesn’t, I will. Now come on, Bess, don’t be mean.”