"The sun feels good, doesn't it," Susy said, she was on one side of Patricia. "I'm having a be-au-ti-ful time!"
Patricia raised herself on her elbows, and, chin in hand, surveyed Susy closely. "Truly true?"
"Truly true," Susy insisted.
Patricia smiled approvingly; and, when she liked, Patricia's smile could be very approving indeed. "I guess maybe I'm going to like knowing you," she said.
Susy's little pink and white face had lost its look of peaceful placidity, her yellow curls their smoothness. Wet, bedraggled, but happier than ever before in her life, and joyfully conscious that she had for once boldly strayed from the narrow path of harmless routine, she smiled back at Patricia.
"I guess we're all dry now," Patricia said presently. "It seems to me as if it must be pretty near supper time."
Nell spread out her limp skirts. "Pretty looking set, we are, to go to supper!"
But Patricia was thinking. "A gingham apron party supper ought to be different," she said slowly; "Nell, let's you and me go get the refreshments and bring them out here."
It was a glorious suggestion. Six pairs of eyes opened wide with delight.
"B-but Sarah—" Mabel asked. Mabel had a knack of asking such questions.