“I’m sure!” Adele declared. “Oh, good, there’s the breakfast bell and now maybe we shall hear something about it.”
Just as the eight girls were tripping down the wide front stairs, a telephone rang in Madame Deriby’s office. Marie, a maid, appeared from the library to answer it, but a second later she came out and beckoned to Adele. “Please, Miss, will you answer the phone? It’s long-distance and I’m not good at hearing,” she said.
With a rapidly beating heart, the girl took up the receiver.
“Is this the Linden Hall boarding-school?” a faint voice inquired.
“Yes it is,” Adele replied.
“This is Mr. Willis and I wish to say that my daughter, Gertrude, is leaving on the early morning train and will reach Linden at two o’clock this afternoon.”
“O goodie! Mr. Willis, I’m so glad! This is Adele. Tell Trudie the bus will be at the station to meet her. Good-bye.”
Adele turned around with shining eyes and found Madame Deriby smiling down at her.
“So your friend can come,” she said kindly. “I am very glad. Would you girls like to ride down in the bus to meet the train?”
“Thank you! We would just love to!” Adele declared.