“You were a brave kid, Laura, to think of the water bowl,” said Chet, with enthusiasm.
“I object, Chetwood!” exclaimed his mother. “Neither your father nor I are caprine, hollow-horned ruminants. Your sister, therefore, cannot be a ‘kid.’”
“Oh, Mother!” complained Chet. “You won’t let a fellow talk.”
“I would much prefer to hear a young gentleman converse,” returned Mrs. Belding, though smiling. “And I agree with you that our Laura is both brave and quick-witted.”
“She’ll get along in the world,” said Mr. Belding, with a satisfied smile. “But I’m sorry Tom Hargrew’s girl is in trouble.”
“Of course, I haven’t seen her since Miss Carrington sent her home,” Laura said. “Nobody has heard her side of the story.”
“Of course, she set the papers afire,” Chet observed.
“It seems impossible that it could be otherwise. Thoughtless child!” said their mother.
“But I want to wait and hear Bobby’s story. If she says she didn’t, and knows she didn’t, I shall believe her,” spoke Laura.
“You will not take circumstantial evidence into consideration, then?” laughed her father.