“No, indeed. That’s a limited train, and it’s almost always on time. They wouldn’t stop that except at the regular places for anyone.”
“That’s all right, then,” said Bessie. “Dolly, can’t you see the point yet for yourself? Go and look at the map, and if you can’t see then, why, I’m not going to tell you! If you’re as stupid as all that, you deserve to wait!”
Bessie laughed, but Dolly understood that the laugh was not one of amusement alone, but that Bessie was undergoing a reaction after some strain that had worried her more than she was willing to admit or to show.
“I guess I’m stupid all right,” she said, after she had looked at the map. “I don’t know what you’re driving at, but I suppose you do, and that makes it all right. I’m willing to do whatever you say, but I do like to know why and how things like that are necessary. And I don’t think I’m unreasonable, either.”
“You’re not,” said Bessie, suddenly contrite. “But, Dolly dear, I don’t want everyone here to know all about us, and the things that are happening to us. You won’t mind waiting a little for an explanation, will you?”
“Not when you ask that way,” said Dolly, loyally. “But I don’t like to have you act as if it were stupid of me not to be able to guess what it is. You wouldn’t have known yourself, would you, if Jake Hoover hadn’t told you when you two were whispering together?”
“I knew it before that. That’s one reason I was able to make Jake tell me what he did, Dolly. I suppose you don’t like my making up with him, either, do you?”
“Oh, no, I don’t like it. But that doesn’t make any difference. I daresay you’ve got some very good reason.”
“I certainly have, Dolly, and you shall know it soon, too. Listen, there’s our train whistling now! We’ll start in a minute or two.”
“Well, that’s good. I hate mysteries. Do you know, Bessie, that if this train only makes one or two stops, we shall be at Plum Beach very soon after Miss Eleanor and the other girls get there?”