With this lucid explanation she paused, out of breath.
Nellie looked a little bewildered.
"Come, make haste; you can have five minutes. Put on your hat, and let's be off. I do long to know what Christina says to our news."
Nellie looked doubtfully towards Tom.
"Yes, go, Nellie," he answered. "I shall be all right."
"Might we have the little tea-things, and have Tom all to ourselves, Nellie?" asked Isabel, imploringly.
"Yes," said Ada, "you can. I shall give you leave. Go along, 'Mrs. Ready-to-Halt,' and be 'ready to go.'"
The children laughed; and as Nellie went away, Ada put a small table close by Tom, and told the little girls to have tea early.
She fished mysteriously into her pocket, and drew forth her purse, and looking quizzically into it, pretended it was empty.
"No go," she said, throwing it up in the air; "I declare there isn't a farden' in it."