“Well, and wiser than ever,” Sally laughed as she held out her hand to Poppy.
“It’s mighty nice to have you back, Sally,” Poppy smiled affectionately.
“We room together until your friend Daphne comes,” Prue told her.
“Good work. Hello, Ann; what are you lurking in the shadows for?” Sally demanded.
“Oh, I never rush, even to say how do you do to my best friend. I much prefer to be the last on the list. Did you have a good summer?”
“Oh, wonderful!” Sally enthused. “Alice’s family were awfully nice to me, and I had a glorious time.”
“It’s too bad Alice isn’t coming back,” Gladys exclaimed. “I’m going to miss her frightfully.”
“I know, but she really isn’t well enough. Why girls, she’s lost pounds,” Sally replied. Alice Bard was a girl Sally had been visiting. She had been to Hilltop for three years, but was unable to return on account of ill-health.
“Well, come along; let’s go in,” Prue suggested. “After all, we’re not the only ones that want to see Sally.”
They followed into the house, and Sally, after she had said “how do you do” to Miss Hull, rejoined them and they went on up to the ballroom. A shout went up from the girls as they saw her coming, and she shook hands until the silence bell sounded.