“Cannot we fix up a picnic for to-morrow, Bob? I expect I could get a car.”
“Your idea’s good. Lost Lake’s picturesque,” Austin agreed.
“You mustn’t reckon on me,” said Miss Grey. “If I go, Ted Harries will drive me to the lake.”
“But you will go with Mrs. Austin?” Kit asked Alison.
“I’d like to go,” said Alison, and when she went off all was arranged.
Mrs. Austin did not come back from the porch, and Austin gave Kit a cigarette.
“Florence rather got after you!”
“I really don’t see why I annoyed her. I felt as apologetic as I felt when I faced the lady at the railroad inquiry office.”
Austin smiled. “Florence is certainly fierce, but she’s stanch, and so long as she is about nobody will hurt Alison. When she arrived she was employed as bookkeeper at Jason’s grocery. Jason’s old and something of a slouch; his wife is an invalid, but they were good to Florence and she’s a first-class business woman. When she took control all went straight, and Jason’s customers found out they must meet their bills. The opposition store tried to bribe her by high pay, but Florence stops with Jason. Now perhaps you get her. Well, let’s join Carrie on the porch.”