“Couldn’t you do them and surprise me?” Betty asked. “I have a long, long letter to write to Madeline, and I want to get started, because I’m very tired and I thought I’d like to go to bed when you do.”
“All right,” agreed Dorothy, and Betty lighted her desk-lamp and two candles, because candle-light is so soothing and luxurious, found a fresh sheet of paper to take the place of the one that was still damp with tears, and had gone as far as, “Dear Madeline, I have some very bad news for you,” when Dorothy fluttered back.
“I thought it all over,” she announced, “and I thought it would be more of a s’prise for Bridget if I didn’t do the dishes. She can’t imagine what it is when she sees them all piled up in her clean sink. But if I did them, it wouldn’t s’prise you a bit, ’cause you knew I was doing them.”
“All right. Now we’re all surprised,” said Betty absently. “So you see if you can’t think of something nice to do while I write my letter.”
“Haven’t you written it yet?” Dorothy demanded, with an elaborate show of amazement. “Well, now I’m the most s’prised one of all! I thought I stayed out there ages-an’-ages.”
Betty smiled and went on writing, while Dorothy stood staring disconsolately at her.
“It’s been ages-an’-ages now,” she declared at the end of three minutes by the clock.
“Oh, Dorothy, do be quiet!” began Betty impatiently. And then, as the smallest sister’s lips quivered ominously, “Remember, dearie, you’re my company, and a company always helps along. This letter I’m writing is on business about the tea-room, and you can help me just lots by being nice and quiet until I get it all written.”
Dorothy eyed her sister mournfully. “I thought that when you had company come to see you, you played what they wanted to, and waited till they’d gone home to do what you wanted to your own self. That’s what m-mother always said.” Dorothy gulped miserably over the “mother.”
“Yes, that’s one kind of company,” Betty explained patiently, “and you are that kind of company too. But you said you wanted to be the other kind—the kind brother Will told you about, that people have to keep them in business. And I told you you might be, so we’re Betty Wales & Co., aren’t we?”