“Then what are you going to do with all that money?” Sadie blurted out the question impatiently.
Elizabeth smiled into the frowning face—a beautiful happy smile—as she answered gently, “I’ll tell you, Sadie. I’ve been longing to tell you only—only you’ve held me off so lately. I’m going to send two girls to Camp Nepahwin for three weeks in August. I’m one of the girls and—you are the other.”
For once in her life Sadie Page was genuinely astonished and genuinely ashamed. For a long moment she sat quite still, the colour slowly mounting in her face until it flamed. Then, all the sharpness gone from her voice, she stammered, “I—I—Elizabeth, I never thought of such a thing as you paying for me. I—think you’re real good!” and she was gone.
Elizabeth looked after her with a smile, all the shadows gone from her blue eyes.
One hot evening a week later, Elizabeth and Sadie met Lizette at Olga’s door. She silently led the way to her own room.
“Olga’s sick,” she said, dropping wearily down on the bed.
“What’s the matter?” Sadie demanded before Elizabeth could speak.
“It’s a fever. The doctor can’t tell yet whether it’s typhoid or malarial, but she’s very sick. The doctor has sent a nurse to take care of her.”
“I wish I could help take care of her,” Elizabeth said earnestly.
“Well, you can’t!” Sadie snapped out. “And, anyhow, she doesn’t need you if she has a nurse.”