Katherine made a wry face. “I’m afraid you can’t count on me,” she said. “I can’t even afford to go as far as Kankakee this spring. I’m going to stay here and be company for Rachel.”
“Yes,” said Rachel, “and you must send us lots of letters and post-cards, and bring us some shells, and an orange apiece that you really saw growing.”
“Indeed we will,” said Mary heartily. “You won’t have time that week for anything but reading our letters.”
“And we shall miss you both dreadfully,” added Betty. “How about you, Nita?”
“I must go home. I went away at Christmas, you know. Besides, I have to get my spring sewing done. What will you girls do about that?”
“Do without,” laughed Madeline. “Don’t raise doubts in our minds, Nita.”
“I’m so envious,” murmured Nita, sadly, “that I have to think of any small compensations that may be coming my way, or I couldn’t stand it. Will you go too, Helen Chase?”
Helen shook her head doubtfully. “I’m not sure that I can. I have some money in the savings bank. I don’t know how much, and anyway probably mother wouldn’t want me to take it. But I’ve never been anywhere, and I can see that traveling is a great education. Don’t you think it would be improving to go?”
“As if it wouldn’t be improving to do anything in our company!” laughed Madeline. “Let me see—that makes—three B’s, Betty, Mary, Helen perhaps, myself—— Why, Roberta, you haven’t announced your intentions.”