“Oh, she is horrible, and such a liar and so unkind! I couldn’t begin to tell you of all the despicable things she is capable of doing and saying.”
“Well, never mind thinking about such things, my dear. You wash your face now and calm yourself. It is such a cold day I am sure there will be nothing doing in the tea room this afternoon. Why don’t you get the boys and go home and have a nice little cozy time away from the old Higgledy Piggledy?”
“And leave you girls with all those dolls to finish? Indeed, my dear Josie, I’m not made of that kind of stuff. I’ll be with you in a minute.”
“I might have known it,” smiled Josie. “You are not of the deserter type. After all you would be better off here with us. I believe I’ll keep you all night. There is always plenty of room in the Higgledy Piggledy for visitors.”
CHAPTER IV
LOST AND FOUND
In a few moments Ursula was back at work on the dolls, all trace of tears banished from her pretty face. Josie was preparing to go out, declaring she must purchase a pot of glue—that she could not dress dolls without glue. In reality, she was going to call on the chief of police. Ben came running in, cheeks rosy, eyes shining and pockets bulging with money collected from patrons to whom he had delivered parcels.
“Sis, where’s Phil?” he cried, “I got a pink sucker for him.”
“Philip! Why, I thought he was with you,” said Ursula, looking up from her work.
“No, he didn’t go with me. It was so cold an’ he was so stuck on that doll baby. I reckon he’s up in the tea room. Phil, oh Phil!” he called.