“Two it is!” sung out Tod, and the rest voiced agreement. “Now can we go, mum?” begged Tad.
“Yes,” said Dolly, “you’re good boys, and you may run and play.”
“What are you up to, Dolly?” asked Grace, as the boys ran off, laughing and jumping about.
“Gracie, you know how much I want to make Bernice more popular. Well, this is my chance, and I want all you girls to help me. If we take her up and are nice to her, the boys will do as we tell them, and the other girls will fall in line, and it will be all right. But if we fall down on it, the whole plan will drop through. Do be on my side, won’t you, Grace?”
Wily Dolly knew that Ethel would do whatever Grace did, and also that Maisie May would agree to whatever the Rawlinses agreed to.
“Yes, I will,” declared Grace. “I think we haven’t been very nice to Bernice, and I’m ready to try to be friends with her, if she’ll have it. But, Dolly, you know she isn’t very easy to be nice to.”
“I know, Grace, but I think we’ll find her better natured nowadays. Any way, let’s be awful nice to her at her own party, and try to make it a grand success.”
“All right,” said Grace, “I’ll do all I can.”
“Me too,” said Ethel, and then Dolly was satisfied.