“Which teacher is going with us?” asked Toinette, suspiciously.
“Teacher?” echoed Ruth. “Why, none, of course. Why don’t you ask if we are going in a baby-carriage?” and she laughed as she slipped her arm through Toinette’s.
“You don’t mean to say that we will be allowed to go by ourselves?”
“Toinette Reeve, I think you’ve got the queerest ideas I ever heard of! Come on!”
In spite of Ruth’s assurance, Toinette cast apprehensive glances about her, as though she expected a frowning face to appear around some corner and rebuke them. Instead, however, they came upon Miss Howard just at the end of the corridor, who asked in a cheery voice:
“Where away so briskly, my lady birds?”
“Only to the village; good-bye,” answered Ruth, waving her hand in farewell.
“Pleasant journey. You will probably run across Miss Preston down there somewhere, and can act as bodyguard for her.”
The girls walked briskly on, and presently Cicely asked:
“What are you going for, anyway?”