She threw her arms about Bessie impulsively and kissed her, while Dolly, delighted, looked on.
“Doesn’t it make you love her more than ever?” she said. “And Bessie is so foolish about it sometimes. She seems to think that girls won’t want to have anything to do with her, because she hasn’t had a home and parents like the rest of us–or like most of us.”
“That is awfully silly, Bessie,” said Marcia. “As if it was your fault! People are going to like you for what you are, and for the way you behave–not on account of things that you really haven’t a thing to do with. Sensible people, I mean. Of course, if they’re like Gladys–but then most people aren’t, I think.”
“Of course they’re not!” said Dolly, stoutly. “And, besides, I’m just sure that Bessie is going to find out about her father and mother some day. I don’t believe Mr. Holmes would be taking all the trouble he has about her unless there were something very surprising about her history that we don’t know anything about. Do you, Marcia?”
“Of course not! He’s got something up his sleeve. Probably she is heiress to a fortune, or something like that, and he wants to get hold of it. He’s a very rich man, isn’t he, Dolly?”
“Yes. You know he’s the owner of a great big department store at home. And Bessie says that it can’t be any question of money that makes him so anxious to get hold of her and of Zara, because he has so much already.”
“H’m! I guess people who have money like to make more, Dolly. I’ve heard my father talk about that. He says they’re never content, and that’s one reason why so many men work themselves to death, simply because they haven’t got sense enough to stop and rest when they have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.”
“That’s another thing I’ve told her. And she says that can’t be the reason, but just the same she never suggests a better one to take its place.”
“Look here,” said Marcia, thoughtfully. “If Mr. Holmes is spending so much money, doesn’t it cost a whole lot to stop him from doing what he’s trying to do, whatever that is? I’m just thinking–my father has ever so much, you know, and I know if I told him, he’d be glad to spend whatever was needed–”
Bessie finished unhappily.