“Why, isn’t she here?” said Nyoda, counting over the group. “I thought I saw her here.”
“She hasn’t come yet,” declared Hinpoha and Gladys.
“Oh, I hope she hasn’t had an absent-minded fit and forgotten this is Washington’s Birthday,” said Sahwah, clasping her hands in distress.
Uncle Teddy pulled out his watch. “It’s too late to go and look for her,” he said, “just five minutes until train time.”
Consternation reigned in the group. The Captain gallantly offered to miss the train and hunt her up, but the others would not hear of it. Hasty telephoning to her house brought the news that Katherine had left half an hour ago for the station.
“Then she’ll be here,” said Nyoda, eyeing the clock nervously. “If she doesn’t make it she’ll have to miss it, that’s all.” There were times when she would have liked to shake Katherine for her unbusiness-like ways.
But eight twenty-five came and no Katherine. The long train pulled in and Uncle Teddy swung them all aboard, and with a great cheering and waving of snowshoes they were off. Other passengers looked with interest at the lively group that occupied one whole end of the car, singing, laughing, shouting nonsense at one another.
“Time for the Better Baby to have his bottle!” said the Bottomless Pitt, gaining possession of the thermos bottle. He unscrewed the lid and held it to Slim’s lips, making him drink willy-nilly. It was hot chocolate, as Sahwah had guessed. Slim choked and sputtered and had to be patted on the back.
“Do behave, children,” said Nyoda, as the fun threatened to block the aisle, “that magazine man can’t get through.”
The man stood in the midst of the scufflers, patiently trying to cry his wares above the din.