“Well, anyway, this waiting is getting on my nerves,” declared Laura.
“Let’s do something to make the time pass more quickly,” suggested Billie. “What do you say to going down town for a bit of shopping?”
“That suits me,” answered Vi. “And we might have some ice-cream sodas while we are down there.”
This suited all of them, and soon they were on the way to the shops where they spent the best part of the afternoon.
Then one day, over a week later, when they had begun to think that Connie had forgotten about them, a telegram came from her, saying that she was starting for North Bend the day after the next and she would be in on the six o’clock train. Would somebody please be there to meet her? Her mother and father had gone on ahead to Lighthouse Island to get everything ready for the girls when they arrived.
Would they be there to meet her! Billie was so excited that she couldn’t eat her supper, and as soon as she could get away from the table she rushed over to Laura’s home to tell her the joyful news. From there the pair called up Vi and invited her to come and celebrate.
And celebrate they did until it got so late that Mrs. Jordon had gently but firmly to put them out, appointing Teddy to escort the girls home.
“I don’t want your mothers to think I’ve kidnapped you,” she called after them as she and Laura, the latter pouting a little, stood in the doorway to wave good-bye to them.
“Just the same, I think you might have let them stay a little longer,” protested Laura as they turned to go inside. “It’s only ten o’clock, and we had so much to talk about.”
“I know,” said Mrs. Jordon, putting an arm lightly about her young daughter’s shoulders. “I was the same way at your age, dear. Mother had to send away my friends and put me to bed regularly every week or so. Now it’s my turn, that’s all.”