There was a slight sound from the room beyond where poor little Peter lay so desperately ill, and Mrs. Haddon rose suddenly, leaving the two little girls and the three big girls together.
It would have been hard to tell at first who was the most embarrassed. But as no children had ever known to resist Billie for very long, the two little Haddons were soon won over and chatted to the three big girls in careless, innocent child fashion.
“We get good things to eat now,” said Isabel, confidentially, speaking of the thing that loomed biggest and most important in her starved little life. “A man comes almost every night with a basket—just like this,” and she eyed the basket which the girls had brought with hungry eyes.
“Yes, an’ he’s a funny little man, too,” added Mary, her big eyes round with eagerness. “He has whiskers and he stoops—dreadful.”
A glance of understanding passed between the chums.
“That description——” Vi began.
“Suits Tim Budd——” added Laura.
“To a T,” finished Billie.
CHAPTER XVI—CHRISTMAS CHEER
So Miss Walters was seeing to it that Polly Haddon received food regularly—“almost every night!” Of course Miss Walters had promised to look out for the family, but the girls had hardly expected her to be so generous.