“I guess not,” chuckled Agnes.
“I always look for him, when I’m on the street,” said Dot.
“We’ll look for him to-day,” said Tess, “when we go to see Maria.”
Tess and Dot were going over to Meadow Street that afternoon to call on the Maronis and Mrs. Kranz. The condition of the Maronis had greatly improved during these weeks. Not only Joe and Maria, but the whole family had begun to be proud of living “like Americans.”
Mrs. Kranz, out of the kindness of her heart, had helped them a great deal. Maria helped the good German lady each forenoon, and was learning to be a careful little housekeeper.
“She iss a goot mädchen,” declared the large lady. “Aind’t idt vonderful how soon dese foreigners gets to be respectable, ven dey iss learndt yet?”
Tess and Dot went up stairs to make themselves ready for their visit, before luncheon. Upon their departure, Eva Larry and Myra Stetson appeared at the front gate.
“Oh, do come in, girls!” shouted Agnes, dropping her sewing.
“We will, if you’ll tie up your ghost,” said Eva, laughing.
“Hush!” commanded Ruth. “Don’t say such things—not out loud, please.”