A gentle tap came at the door. “Are you asleep?” whispered a voice. “May I come in?”
Laura entered, a tall white shape that looked even taller in the moonlight.
“Are you sleepy?” she whispered.
“Not in the least,” said Elliott.
Laura settled softly on the foot of the bed. “I hoped you weren’t. Let’s talk. Doesn’t it seem a shame to waste time sleeping on a night like this?”
Elliott tossed her a pillow. It was comforting to have Laura there, to hear a voice saying something, no matter what it was talking about. And Laura’s voice was very pleasant and what she said was pleasant, too.
Soon another shape appeared at the door Laura had left half-open. “It is too fine a night to sleep, isn’t it, girls?” Aunt 36 Jessica crossed the strip of moonlight and dropped down beside Laura.
“Are you all in here?” presently inquired a third voice. “I could hear you talking and, anyway, I couldn’t sleep.”
“Come in,” said Elliott.
Gertrude burrowed comfortably down on the other side of her mother.