“Hallo!” said Josy, “rather a weird errand boy, isn’t it? I believe he’s ill or something!”
The pair stood at the bottom of the steps and looked inquiringly at the crouching figure; then—“Sybil!” exclaimed Gretta and Josy in the same breath. “Why, however did you get back!”
CHAPTER XVII
THE “LITTLE HOUSE”
STELLA, once settled comfortably in the motor by Mrs. Fleming’s side, became so exceedingly talkative that Margot’s mother, who was feeling very anxious about the two children, would have much welcomed a little respite from the streams of conversation that poured unceasingly from the lips of her small companion.
“I don’t envy Margot if she’s got there!” announced the damsel—who was plainly qualifying for a post as Job’s comforter—while she tossed back her pigtail. “Nothing would make me go near that house, I know!”
“But there’s Sybil to think of, too,” said Mrs. Fleming. “Perhaps it was on account of her that Margot was so anxious to go.”
“Well, perhaps so,” replied Stella sagely. “But nothing on earth would have sent me there, and I don’t think Margot would have wanted to go so much if she’d stopped to think for a minute.”
“I’m not so sure,” said Margot’s mother quietly; “though I certainly think that she should have tried to speak to one of the mistresses first. But that would have brought Sybil into trouble, I expect she thought—so it was rather a difficult position.”
“Well, if she thinks she’s going to win the Hope-Scott prize for going, I guess she’s mistaken. I just got a scolding from dad for going into the gipsy’s tent for the baby,” declared Stella, “and I don’t believe Miss Slater would let the prize go to a person who’s broken rules like this, however brave they were!”
Mrs. Fleming smiled, beginning to see some reason for Stella’s rather resentful speeches. “I’m quite sure she did not start off for that reason,” she remarked. “Also, I believe, as you do, that the prize is not at all likely to be gained for this particular piece of daring. Margot would be the first to agree with me, I think; don’t you?”