CHAPTER XIII
CATHERINE DAWDLES
The chug-chug of the bus sounded on the main road. Dave was blowing his horn, too, as he always did, to warn any stragglers.
“Hurry!” urged Elizabeth Ann, taking hold of Doris’s hand to make her run. “Hurry, Catherine—you’ll be late.”
Elizabeth Ann and Doris ran as fast as they could, but Catherine simply walked as usual. Once Elizabeth Ann looked over her shoulder and called to her to run, but Catherine didn’t even answer.
“Almost missed it,” said Dave, when Elizabeth Ann reached the low, wide step, scarlet-faced and breathless and dragging a breathless Doris after her.
All the other children were inside and that showed Elizabeth Ann how nearly she had missed the bus. Usually she and Doris were on hand to stand in line and march in with the others.
“Hurry up,” Dave commanded. “Hop in.”
Doris obediently “hopped,” but Elizabeth Ann hung back.
“Catherine Gould is coming—I have to wait for her,” she said, looking pleadingly at Dave.