"All right," Sylvia was tapping her fingers restlessly; "that's Thursday. I'll get a girl I know to work on the costume to-night; we'll buy books on palmistry on our way home. We'll give you just four days to lure your public with scones, and then if you don't call Joan up, she'll start a tea room herself across the way."
This made them all laugh, but there was an earnestness in their eyes.
And on Sunday night Elspeth spoke over the telephone.
"Could you come to-morrow at two, Miss Thornton?"
Joan, sitting close to the telephone, winked at Sylvia. They had all been sitting up nights working, reading, and praying for that question.
"I think so," was the reply in quite an unmoved and businesslike tone.
"And remember, Joan," Sylvia cautioned later, "this is but a means to fit you for a profession!"
"I'll remember," Joan twinkled, "in the meantime, I am going to enjoy myself."