“Thank you,” the girl answered, going back into the car to gather her things together. “There, that is all, I guess, a bag, a hat box and one suit case. I can manage to exist with that much for a few days.”
“Come along. Just follow me,” cried Mr. Ludlow, just loud enough for all to hear him. “This way. I want to get you all taken care of and over to the hotel as quickly as possible. I have made reservations and I hope everything will be ready at once for us.”
“Come Ruth,” sang out Dorothy, as she and Aunt Betty and Alfaretta made their way after Mr. Ludlow. “Come or you will be left behind.”
“I promised I’d wait here for Mr. Dauntrey,” answered Ruth. “He is coming back for me. My luggage is all here, and I can’t manage it.”
“Very well, we will wait for you in the stage,” answered Dorothy, and linking her arm in Alfaretta’s, followed close after Mrs. Calvert, who was walking just in front with Mr. Ludlow.
“There’s Mr. Dauntrey,” whispered Alfaretta. “He’s with that little dancer, Miss Winters.”
“So he is,” whispered Dorothy, “I hope he has not forgotten Ruth. Mr. Ludlow usually attends to Ruth himself; I wonder why he has not thought of her?”
“Maybe he is provoked at her,” answered Alfy, very softly so as the couple just in front would not hear them. “He looked at her real cross like, at the Pennsylvania station to-day. She was standing, talking very earnestly with Mr. Dauntrey, and Mr. Ludlow called to her twice and she never heard him.”
“Maybe that’s why. But see, there he goes back. I guess he has gone after Ruth now,” replied Dorothy.
“Here we are. Now all get in. We must hurry,” announced Mr. Ludlow. “Are we all here? Let me see—Mrs. Calvert, Dorothy, Alfaretta, Miss Winters, Miss Robbia and Mr. Carleton,” as the pianist came in sight carrying two suit cases, “but where is Ruth? Ruth and Mr. Dauntrey, where are they?”