“You will feel lost without Kurt at the helm, won’t you, Louis?” asked Mrs. Kingdon. “And Jo away, too.”
“Westcott returned Jo this morning. Simpson has delayed his trip to Canada for a few days.”
“That is good news. Of course Jo hasn’t Kurt’s efficiency, but he gets on well with the men.”
“They say,” remarked Francis sagely, “that Jo is always ‘right there.’”
“So is Uncle Kurt!” exclaimed Betty indignantly.
“You don’t get me, Betty,” said her brother loftily, “but it’s no use explaining to a girl.”
Pen had been a most attentive and eager listener to this conversation.
“I am sorry I didn’t know Kurt was going to town,” said Mrs. Kingdon to Pen, “for we could have sent him for some things for you.”
“What kind of things?” asked Betty curiously.
“I came without my luggage,” explained Pen glibly, “but I can trim out clothes as easily as I can animals, and if you have any stray pieces of cloth I can very quickly duplicate what I am now wearing.”