“I understand the Ditmars are practically a bride and groom,” returned Mary Louise.... “Oh, there she is, in the garden! Pretty, isn’t she?”
An attractive young woman in a pink dress looked up as the girls came nearer. She smiled pleasantly.
“Good-morning,” said Mary Louise. “You are Mrs. Ditmar, aren’t you? Everybody knows everybody else here at Shady Nook, so we’ll introduce ourselves. This is my chum, Jane Patterson, and I’m Mary Louise Gay.”
The young woman nodded cordially.
“I’m awfully glad to meet you both,” she said. “This is a friendly place—I like it a lot. If only my husband did——”
“Doesn’t Mr. Ditmar like Shady Nook?” asked Mary Louise in surprise.
“No, he doesn’t. But I guess it’s just because he hasn’t enough to do. You know how men are when they haven’t any work: full of gloom.”
“Well, things will be better this fall,” remarked Jane optimistically.
“I don’t know,” replied Mrs. Ditmar. “At least—for architects. Their work comes slowly. It was fine all spring, while Horace had this bungalow to build, and the Robinsons’ next door. But now he can’t get a thing.”
“Maybe the Hunters will rebuild,” suggested Jane openly.