“That’s true,” Phyllis agreed as she and Gale turned into the driveway of the big house on the hill where Phyllis lived.
“Do you think I should come any farther?” Gale asked, halting at a small summerhouse where the girls invariably took their leave. Very seldom did they go on up to the house.
“My Aunt was supposed to be out this afternoon,” Phyllis said. “I think you might come up. I’d like some help with my Algebra.”
“Have you said any more to her about going to Briarhurst?” Gale asked as they walked slowly up the gravel path and with light steps mounted to the porch.
Phyllis led the way into the dark, formal hallway and up the stairs to her own room. There, though the furnishings were stiff and old fashioned, the sun shone in, dispelling the sense of gloom that seemed to hang over the rest of the house.
“She insists that I go to Stonecliff,” Phyllis sighed. “I suppose I must, but I shall hate it,” she said with sudden vehemence. “I don’t want to be separated from all the Adventure Girls. You mean more to me than you know,” she said, a sudden mist in her eyes. “You are the only friends I have. The only fun I have I have to steal with you. I never thought a person could be as cruel as Aunt Melba. She has taken every nice thing I ever had away from me. Now she proposes to take you girls away too.”
Gale slipped a loving arm through her friend’s. “She can’t take us away. We love you too, Phyl,” she declared earnestly. “Don’t let it worry you. We shall think of something. We’ll take the situation into our own hands and you won’t have to go to Stonecliff.”
Gale had been purposely gay and confident when she was talking to Phyllis but afterward she wondered what they could possibly do about it. Miss Fields was a thin, middle-aged woman who ruled her household with a rod of iron. No one had ever been known to oppose her successfully or for long. Phyllis, especially, was a victim of her Aunt’s every whim. Raised in terror of the stern old woman that terror still held Phyllis in its grip.
Gale turned into her own yard and then she suddenly remembered Brent Stockton’s words. She looked across the street. Bruce was just coming home from football practice.