“Betty has great powers of concentration,” said Mr. Lee, with a twinkle in his eyes, “but look out; it’s dangerously near absent-mindedness.”
“So it is, Daddy. I’ve got a funny little problem to solve, that’s all. I’m sorry I was so absorbed. But the twins were telling you all about their affairs anyhow——”
“When last you heard anything,” laughed Dick. “We hadn’t said a word for at least a full minute and a half!”
“It was Amy Lou, then,” suggested Betty.
“I didn’t do anything,” said Amy Lou, getting ready to put up an injured lip.
“Mercy no, darling. You’re all right. It’s old Betty that isn’t much good as a mother substitute. Isn’t that so?”
But Amy Lou was drinking her milk now and when she put down her tumbler she said, rather gaspingly, “I love Mother and I love Betty, too. She made the dessert just like Grandma.”
After dinner Doris and Dick did the dishes, by previous arrangement, and Betty went to her lessons, while Mr. Lee had his customary little visit with his youngest daughter before her bedtime. That was to be a little later than usual this time. But Betty could not study very well. It was hard to settle to anything someway and when Amy Lou’s father was putting her to bed, the telephone rang. Dick answered it and called Betty, who had been alone back in her bedroom.
It was Carolyn Gwynne. “’Lo, Betty. Betty I’ve got a problem I can’t answer.”
“Have you, what is it?”