"No, she didn't," said Mabel, rather embarrassed to hear in this way of her own mother's plans.
"We were so busy today that we didn't get time to say much."
"Well, I am glad to be able to tell you good news," said the little Captain cheerily. "It will be so much off your mind to be able to go to sleep tonight and be sure that things are working out right. I think you are so brave, Mabel. I never would have the courage to do what you are doing, even though I am quite grown up. And you are really only a little girl in years."
"But I feel old in experience," sighed Mabel. She thought she heard a soft giggle at the other end of the wire, but at once Mrs. Horton coughed rather loudly and Mabel knew she was mistaken.
"That makes such a difference," said the Captain. "For my part, I am a perfect goose. I would be so lonesome and afraid there where you are, and I would rather do any amount of mending and dishes rather than go down and work in a stuffy newspaper office and beg a lot of women for items about their silly affairs. Yes, you are really very brave. You must call me once in awhile and let me know how you are progressing. And you need not come to the Scout meetings for awhile if you are busy. I will excuse you. I will explain to the girls just what you are doing to help them all. Good-night! Oh, your mother said for me to tell you good-night for her too as she was rushing off to the theatre, so there are two good-nights for you, Mabel dear. Good luck, and I hope you will find time to ask me over to tea with you some afternoon."
"Indeed I will!" said Mabel. "Good-night!"
She turned from the receiver. Suddenly she felt very small and young, and the pretty rooms were stiller than the rooms at home somehow.
The subject for a poem flashed into her mind. And quick as a wink she made up the first verse
"Alone, alone, the world before me.
What is this I leave behind?
Happiness and heat and mother;
All to train my wondrous mind."
Somehow heat did not sound very poetical, but the apartment was certainly freezing cold.