When they arrived at the place from which Shirley had started, Sidney and her mother could be seen, coming from the entrance of the store where Shirley had shopped. “Oh, I hope that they have not waited!” exclaimed Shirley.
“If they have it is not your fault.”
“I’m afraid it is.”
Mr. Thorne helped Shirley out and drew her with him to meet his wife and Sidney. “I will take you to find the other car,” he said. “You must be safely started to the right place this time.”
It was a curious meeting. Sidney’s face was flaming, and Mrs. Thorne’s was full of amazement. “Mother,” said Mr. Thorne, “this is Miss Harcourt, who attends school with Sidney. I ran across her accidentally. Have you been waiting for the car?”
“No,” replied Mrs. Thorne, after saying a few words to Shirley and extending her daintily gloved hand from her furs. “We have only now finished. Sidney expected to go home alone, for I intended to join one of the ladies for tea at the club.”
“That accounts for Carl’s expecting only Sidney in the car, then.”
Mr. Thorne was watching the two girls, who had pleasantly exchanged greetings as school girls would. He gave his wife a long look, then said that he must find the Holland car for Shirley. “I will be back in a moment,” said he. “Come, Miss Harcourt; no telling where your car may be parked by this time, but the chauffeur is doubtless on the lookout for you.”
“I am sorry, Mother,” said Sidney, as the two entered their own car, “that I did not tell you before about Shirley Harcourt. But I thought that it might annoy you as it annoyed me to have some one else look so much like me.”
“It was startling,” replied Mrs. Thorne. “It is strange, too, that she happened to attend the same school. I am afraid that you have not enjoyed your term. Would you prefer to go somewhere else?”