“And where’s the lion cub?” another wanted to know.
Billie smiled mysteriously.
“Just wait till you see her! You’d be surprised!”
Whereupon, Billie proceeded to “fix things” with Miss Arbuckle. This was not difficult, Miss Arbuckle being a friend of Billie’s with consequent implicit belief in the girl’s good sense and judgment.
“We haven’t finished our shopping—not nearly,” Billie explained, having drawn the teacher aside so that the curious and watchful girls could not hear what was said. “If you don’t mind, Miss Arbuckle, I’d like to take Edina to lunch—just the two of us. After that we will shop some more and maybe take in a movie, if there’s time.”
“We—ell,” the teacher hesitated, “if you will give me your word to be on hand to take the school bus back——”
“Oh, I will,” promised Billie. “Thanks so much, Miss Arbuckle. It would simply spoil everything to—to spring Edina on them now.”
A look of mutual understanding passed between teacher and pupil. Miss Arbuckle smiled.
“I suppose it would,” she agreed. “Run along to your good work, Billie. I’m entirely in sympathy with it and I wish you luck.”
“Miss Arbuckle, you’re a perfect dear!” cried Billie gratefully.