“Why—er—I presume Laura and her friends would have no objection to another of their schoolmates joining them. I understand Mrs. Morse will chaperon them––”
“And quite a proper person for that office, too,” agreed Mrs. Pendleton. “I presume they will take along a maid.”
“Oh! I do not know,” said Mrs. Belding, beginning to feel somewhat worried now. “I imagine the girls expect to do for themselves––”
“Oh! I will send a maid with Lily. At least, I will pay the wages of one who will do for all the girls—in a way.”
She bustled away to find Lily after the march. Mrs. Belding waited for her daughter in more or less trepidation. It had suddenly crossed her mind that Lily Pendleton was seldom at her house with the friends that Mother Wit gathered about her.
CHAPTER IV
“LONESOME LIZ”
“Oh, galloping grasshoppers!” gasped Bobby Hargrew, clinging tight to Laura and Nellie Agnew in the dressing-room. “Do you hear what she says?”