“Maybe they’ve got the scarlet fever, too,” murmured Dot, in awe.
But just then a figure appeared at the sitting room window which, on spying the Corner House girls, began to jump up and down and make urgent gestures for them to come in.
“It’s Mabel,” said Tess. “And she must be all alone.”
“Oh, goody! then her sisters can’t boss us,” cried Dot, hurrying to drag her Alice-doll’s new go-cart up the steps.
Mabel, the Creamer girl nearest the little Kenways’ own ages, ran to open the door.
“Oh, hurrah!” she cried. “Come in, do! Tess and Dot Kenway. I’m so lonesome I could kill flies! Dear me! how glad I am to see you,” and she hugged them both and then danced around them again.
“Are you all alone, Mabel?” asked Dot, struggling with her hood and coat in the warm hall.
“Well, Minnie” (that was the maid’s name) “has just run down to the store. She won’t be gone long. But I might as well be all alone. Mother’s gone to Aunt Em’s and Lydia’s taken Peg to have a tooth pulled.”
“But the baby?” asked Tess. “Didn’t I just hear him?”
“Oh, yes,” said Mabel, scowling. “I’ve got to mind the baby. I told Lydia I’d go have a tooth pulled and Peg could mind him. I’d rather.”