Neale and Hal brought around the automobile, and as Nalbro was getting in Agnes could not help saying:
“We were down this morning to see Mr. Howbridge, and he said we could get a new car. I hope it comes before you go home, Nally.”
“A new car!” whooped out Neale. “Glory be! Then I won’t have to tease this one along much more.”
“Oh, Agnes, Mr. Howbridge didn’t say for sure we could have one,” expostulated Ruth.
“No. But he didn’t say we couldn’t,” countered Agnes. “And when he doesn’t do that it almost always happens. Anyhow, I’m going to look at some of the new models.”
“There’s certainly no harm in looking,” chuckled Neale. “But I do hope Mr. Howbridge loosens up. If he doesn’t we may get stalled out in the country some day and have to be towed in.”
“Is this machine as risky as that?” asked Nalbro.
“Nothing of the sort!” declared Luke. “It’s perfectly reliable.”
With merry quips and laughter the party of young folks started off, leaving Dot and Tess at home to play with Sammy Pinkney.
Now, as it happened, Tess and Dot had overheard more of the talk of their older sisters than Ruth and Agnes were aware of. It was distinctly a case of “little pitchers with big ears,” and when the automobile party was well out of the way, Tess with a queer, secretive air about her, led her sister and Sammy to a secluded place around the corner of the house.