"True enough," said Anne, "but even though the gym. is gone we still have our school. It would be simply terrible to have had it go in our senior year."
"No doubt the gym. will be rebuilt at once," remarked Jessica.
"I am not so sure of that," replied Grace. "My father belongs to the common council, and I heard him tell mother the other day that the High School had been refused an appropriation that they had asked for."
"Oh, well, then, we High School pupils will raise the money ourselves," said Nora lightly.
"That idea is worth looking into," said Grace eagerly. "We might help a great deal."
"Grace has the 'Busy Little Helper' stunt on the brain," jeered Jessica.
"Anything to keep matters moving," laughed Grace. "I'm an advocate of the strenuous life. But seriously, girls, how splendid it would be to feel that we had been instrumental in rebuilding the gymnasium."
"Fine," agreed Nora. "We used to sing a song in kindergarten when I was very young and foolish that started out, 'We are little builders,' although at that time I never expected to really become one."
"Nora," said Grace severely, "you have all Hippy's bad traits and some of your own thrown in."
It was nearing six o'clock before the four friends left the scene of the fire and started for home. Nora's prediction of rain proved true, for just as they made their way across the campus the rain began to come down in torrents, wetting them to the skin, but in no respect dampening their joy over the fact that this shower had come just in time to save their High School from further ravage by the flames.