“Those little black boys will be too cunning for words,” said Madeline, jumping up. “Somebody else go for the oranges, and Mary and I will find the children.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Miss Hale, rising also. “Wait a minute while I get my sun-shade.”
“I’ll go too,” said Dr. Eaton. “I don’t like the idea of you ladies wandering about in Grant’s Town alone.”
Ethel flushed and murmured something about its being perfectly safe, though when Mrs. Wales said doubtfully, “Perhaps it isn’t quite, dear,” she submitted. But she managed to start off with Madeline, leaving Dr. Eaton to console himself as best he could with Mary’s lively company.
Meanwhile Mrs. Wales, Eleanor and Betty, went after more oranges, and the rest sat on the piazza, admiring their Easter presents and discussing the egg-rolling.
“Do you think the children will care about the oranges?” asked Helen, doubtfully. “I suppose they’re even commoner here than apples are with us.“
“That’s so,” said Bob, dubiously. “Perhaps they won’t think they’re worth scrambling for.“
“I know what we can do,” said Babbie, after a minute’s pause. “We can put coppers inside. Then they’ll go for them fast enough.”
“In that case we shall have to get some more money changed,” said Babe. “Come on down to the book-store. The man there is awfully obliging.”
The various foraging parties returned at about the same time, Betty, Eleanor and Mrs. Wales loaded down with huge bags of oranges, the B’s bringing coppers galore, and Mary and Madeline convoying ten small, ragged, and rather frightened black urchins.