Ruth proposed to speak of that when her guardian called this Saturday afternoon. As she had hinted to Agnes, Ruth had invited a number of girl friends to luncheon. It was the plan to form a sort of young people’s Civic Club, to take up several town matters, and Ruth was the moving spirit in this, for she loved to work toward some definite end.
This Saturday was no exception in being a busy one at the Corner House.
In pursuance of her plans she had enlisted the whole household in preparing for the event, from Mrs. MacCall, who looked after matters in general, Linda, who helped with the baking, Uncle Rufus, who was cleaning the lawn, down to Dot and Tess, who had been sent for flowers.
And then had come the bribing of Dot and Tess to go to the store and, following that, the crash.
“What can it be?” murmured Ruth, as she and Agnes hastened on. “Some one surely must be hurt.”
“I hope not,” half whispered Agnes.
From the side porch came the sound of childish anguish.
“She’s all flatted out, that’s what she is! She’s all flatted out, my Alice-doll is, and it’s all your fault, Tess Kenway! Why didn’t you hold the barrel?”
“I couldn’t, I told you! It just rolled and it rolled. It’s a good thing it didn’t roll on Almira!”
“Gracious! did you hear that?” cried Agnes. “What can they have been doing?”