“Of course I don’t mind,” laughed Jane. “Anybody that’s ambitious has a right to work! But you better wait a while, Mary Lou. The Reeds may be over at the hotel, eating their dinner.”
“No, they’re not,” put in Mrs. Gay. “Mrs. Reed told me herself that they couldn’t afford to go over there oftener than once a week—with all that family.”
“You don’t mind my doing it, Mother?” inquired Mary Louise.
“No, dear—provided you don’t get too tired. But if you do, you can easily stop. Will you promise me that?”
“Of course I will, Mother,” agreed the girl as she started to gather up the dishes.
“Stop that!” protested Jane. “I may not be ambitious, but I’m not going to let you get the supper and wash the dishes both. Freckles and I are clearing up tonight. You run along, Mary Lou!”
“Suits me!” agreed her chum as she hurried off to the Reeds’ cottage.
Mabel Reed listened to the proposition with delight and immediately consented to help.
“Let’s go right around Shady Nook now,” she suggested, “and get the people to sign up for the meals. Then we’ll have something definite to take to Adelaide.”
“You are a business woman, Mabel!” exclaimed Mary Louise admiringly. “But we’d have to quote prices, wouldn’t we?”