“I think that would be real nice,” agreed Tess.
Dot moved over at once to make room. “She can sit beside me and the Alice-doll,” she proclaimed.
“Well, I declare!” exclaimed Mrs. Heard, her face alight with pleasure at this united invitation. “You are just the nicest girls I ever met. I wonder if I’d better?”
“Of course,” said Ruth. “You can find some place to leave the pony. Or Neale can, I’m sure.”
“Why, I know these people right in the very next house,” said Mrs. Heard. “Indeed I expected to call there if Jonas ever got that far.”
Neale got briskly out of the car again. “I’ll go and unharness him,” he said, cheerfully. “You just find out where I shall put him. He’d rather have you ride in an automobile than drag you himself,” and he laughed.
“Did—did he tell you so, Neale, when you were talking with him?” asked Dot, in amazement.
Then they all laughed.
CHAPTER III—WHAT MRS. HEARD TOLD
In ten minutes the Kenway car was moving again. Jonas had been put up at the barn of Mrs. Heard’s friends, near which the pony had balked, and Neale soon whisked them out of sight of the place.