Miss Holcroft nodded comprehensively, and sat down with her writing materials at hand to consider how best to word her letter.
Meanwhile, Marigold having caught sight of Muriel waiting for her outside, went out to join her friend. The two children strolled down to the beach together. Marigold informed her companion that they were likely to have an addition to their party. Muriel heard all Marigold had to say about Molly Jenkins in silence. She did not appear much interested, and was decidedly not pleased.
"I don't see what your aunts want to have her here for," was the first remark she made, after Marigold had told her all there was to tell. "Don't you think she'll be a great nuisance?"
"No; why should she be?"
"She is lame, isn't she?"
"Yes; but she can walk with crutches, you know. I thought we should be able to make her a seat on the sands like we do for my aunts, so that she could sit there reading or working, and watch us at play."
"But why should she come here at all? She's only a common lace-maker, isn't she?"
"She is a lace-maker, certainly," Marigold responded, with a bright flash of anger in her eyes, "but she's not in the least common!"
"Now you're cross with me," Muriel said, with a discontented pout.
Marigold made no answer, and the other continued—