“Have Percy and Ben got back yet?” asked Nancy, appearing at the door of the lean-to in a fresh blue linen dress, her hair all dewy from her bath, her eyes bright and clear from the long rest.
“Heavens, Nancy, you make me feel like a dusty old shoe,” exclaimed Billie, realizing for the first time that she was tired and hot and crushed. “No, no one has come and Dr. Hume has gone to look for Phoebe’s father.” Then she told Nancy of the experiences of the afternoon.
“If the old woman spoke the truth all we have to do is to lie low and say nothing, like Br’er Rabbit,” said Nancy.
“Do you know what I intend to do, Nancy,” announced Billie, glancing through the open door at Phoebe in the distance on the divan. “Phoebe’s awake. You see she’s sitting up. I am going to set her fears at rest about her father first. Then I’m going to take her upstairs and after she’s bathed, I’ll dress her in some of my things. She shall swallow her pride. Cousin Helen shall ask her to visit us until her father is able to come back, and to-morrow I mean to take her down to the village in the ‘Comet.’ She shall wear my best and only pink linen. Won’t she be stunning? I’m glad I took your advice and brought it along now, and we’ll just show these people that Phoebe is not a poor ragged mountain girl.”
“Take anything of mine you want,” said Nancy generously. “Phoebe’s taller than I am, but she can wear my ‘undies,’ I suppose.”
“I think I have plenty,” replied Billie, “that is, if Alberdina Schoenbachler ever gets through ironing the pink wash.”
Phoebe was a good deal cheered by the message of the old herb gatherer.
“Oh, yes, I know her quite well. She likes me. Once when I had a fever she came and nursed me for several days and gave me herb tea.”
Phoebe also submitted to being dressed up, after a good deal of persuasion.
“You know we are under a great obligation to you and you must give us a chance to get rid of a little of it,” Billie said. “Besides, Dr. Hume said that on no account were you to leave the camp. You wouldn’t like to disobey him, would you?”