Betty laughed and squeezed the arm in hers. “How we do change,” said she. “But I told you all about how I feel about my dear friends. And you said ‘all the girls.’ Was any one there beside you and Peggy and Carolyn?”
“Sure enough—I didn’t tell you. I think from what Carolyn said she did mean to have just Peggy and me—and you, of course, if you could have come. But then, not being sure about Peggy after all, she thought perhaps she’d ask somebody else in your place. So on the car there were Dotty Bradshaw and Mary Emma Rowland and she asked them to come. They accepted after a little hesitation on account of being expected at home. But Carolyn said that they could telephone home from her house and that she would herself to let them know that it was all right, if they wanted her to. You know how hospitable Carolyn is, and her mother lets her do these things. I imagine that they knew it was the first of school and she would be wanting to see some of us. Anyhow, there was a special lunch for us, outdoors on the big porch. I’m sorry you missed it.”
“So am I. But under the circumstances I couldn’t. And now that is all over and you haven’t a worry have you?”
“No. I’d a little rather Dotty hadn’t heard what Mathilde said to me, for she almost despises Mathilde anyhow. But it can’t be helped and everybody said they wouldn’t say a word and would treat Mathilde ‘the same as ever.’ And you would have laughed to hear Dotty, when Carolyn used that expression.”
“‘The same as ever?’ she asked. ‘Then that doesn’t bind me except about this little trick of hers. Sure I’ll treat Mathilde the same as ever!’” Kathryn was laughing now.
Betty looked thoughtfully at Kathryn. “Dotty speaks too quickly and sharply, I’m afraid. I felt real uncomfortable when she had that passage at arms with Mathilde that day. But Dotty is a sincere person and she may have some reason of her own about Mathilde.”
“I haven’t a doubt. But I thought about you, Betty, when I said to the girls I’d rather not have it make any difference with the way they treated Mathilde. You’re always so fair to everybody, and this wasn’t so much after all.”
“It was the spirit it showed or you thought it showed on Peggy’s part that worried you, and that is important when it comes to a nice friend like Peggy; but I think you were wonderfully nice about it, and—thank you for your opinion of me. That’s another thing for me to live up to!”
“I don’t think you need worry about that, Betty Lee. But to change the subject, you’re going to go on the G. A. A. hike a week from Saturday, aren’t you?”
“Why, I don’t know, Kathryn. I hadn’t thought about it much. There’s so much to do at home, and Saturday is the only day there, that I’m not sure I can. I ought to help Mother, for with three of us to get ready for fall and winter in school, to say nothing of Amy Louise, and meals now for everybody, Mother is just as rushed with work as we imagine we are in school.”