Miss Carter laughed at his concern.
"Nothing very alarming," she said, "but I don't think she quite understands school yet. She doesn't seem to want to talk about it, for one thing."
"But Phyllis says the girls all like her?"
"I am sure they do, but perhaps she doesn't realize it quite yet. Girls are very strange sometimes, Tom, but I can see Phyllis is worried."
Tom had only time to nod, for the girls came back with their hats and coats on and the subject had to be dropped.
"It's a glorious day," Phyllis enthused as they entered the park and headed toward the zoo. "I wonder if Akbar will remember me."
"Oh, undoubtedly," Tom teased. "Lions are noted for their wonderful memories."
"Have you known him long?" Janet inquired mischievously.
"I have. Akbar and I have been friends for over two years, and you can laugh if you want to but he does know me," Phyllis retorted.
And indeed it almost seemed as though he did. They entered the lion house to find a number of people around the cage, for Akbar was a mighty beast, and people were apt to linger, fascinated, before him.