“Yes; they keep a boxful of costumes and that pink curtain on purpose for shows. They get up all sorts of plays, too,” Mrs. Holt went on to say, seeing the keen interest in Elsa’s face. “Last summer they played snake until it got on my imagination so that I hardly dared step on the floor for fear of putting my foot on that snake.”
“It wasn’t really a snake, though,” said Betty, who had turned to listen.
“No, only a make-believe one,” Mrs. Holt replied laughingly; “but they made it seem real.”
“But, mother of mine,” said Ben very earnestly, “you know I only got Peggy to play that so as to teach her not to be afraid of snakes.”
“Girls!” exclaimed Ruth Warren, “it is quarter of five o’clock, and snowing fast. We must begin to get ready to go home.” She realized that it would take considerable time.
“Mamma, dear, I wish Elsa and Betty could stay here all night,” cried Alice. Betty had stayed before, once.
“They could perfectly well, Alice,” replied Mrs. Holt cordially, “if Elsa’s grandmother and Betty’s mother were willing.”
“Let’s telephone and ask,” suggested Ben.
“I think my mother will let me stay,” Betty said quickly, standing on tip-toe in her excitement, “because it’s Friday and no school to-morrow. May I telephone now?”
In a few moments Betty came back from the side-hall: “Yes, mother says I can stay, if Mrs. Holt is sure I won’t be a bother. Aren’t you going to telephone about staying?” she asked, turning to Elsa, who had been silent all this time, although her eyes showed how much she wanted to stay.