“At the price of some girl’s life?” asked Marie Louise. “No, Marjorie, it isn’t worth it!”
“And all sorts of problems are going to arise,” added Florence. “First of all, we have no cook—and with these stories going around it isn’t likely that anyone will want the job; then, there’s the difficulty of the different girls’ vacations—they’re already arranged for; and without being able to hire extra people we’ll all be dead tired most of the time. And, last of all, there’s our mothers.”
“Our mothers?” repeated Marjorie. “I don’t see—”
“Why, when they read about all these wild doings in the papers they’re going to write us to come home immediately. Indeed, I expect to get a telegram tomorrow.”
Marjorie was silent; the arguments seemed conclusive; the majority overwhelmingly against her. And when Lily was among the opponents, then she felt beaten indeed.
But she had forgotten Ethel Todd.
“Girls,” said the latter; “I do not believe you are right. I think we would be cowards to run away now, to think only of ourselves, and not at all of Anna. The best way to get her back is to stick to our jobs and keep on the trail. Of course, we want to take every precaution; but I really don’t see any danger. We’re not babies—and we have the boys to help us.”
“Indeed you have!” cried Jack, staunchly.
Marjorie cast Ethel a grateful look; she felt already as if the battle were won.
“Let us help you out in the evenings,” offered John. “In the kitchen—doing the rough work, and the cleaning. What are we here for, anyhow?”