"I think," Isobel said seriously to her family, as they were gathered around the breakfast table, a few days after Jerry's arrival, "that it'd be nice if Gyp and I put on black——"
"Black——" cried Gyp, spilling her cocoa in her astonishment.
"Yes, black. We should have worn it when Uncle Peter died and now, going to school out there, it would show the others that we respected——"
Mrs. Westley laughed, then when she saw the color deepen on Isobel's cheeks she added soothingly: "Your thought's all right, Isobel dear, but it will be hardly necessary for you and Gyp to put on black now to show your respect. I think every pupil of Lincoln can best do it by building up a reputation for scholarship that will make Lincoln known all over the country."
"Isobel just wants everybody to remember she's Uncle Peter's——"
"Hush, Graham." Mrs. Westley had a way of saying "hush" that cleared a threatening atmosphere at once.
"Oh, isn't it going to be fun?" cried Gyp. "Mother, can't we take Jerry out there this morning?"
"But I have to use the car——"
"If you girls were fellows, we could walk," broke in Graham.
"We can—we can! It's only two miles and a half. Simpson watched on the speedometer the last time we drove out."