“As, yes, Mollie darling, she had a fearful crush on you,” laughed Ruth. “We are already green with jealousy. It’s those golden baby curls of yours that do the business, I suppose. First, it was the lovely Mrs. Cartwright you won from us at Newport. Now your cerulean eyes have hypnotized the Countess Sophia. What shall we do to her, girls?”
“Destroy her beauty!” cried Barbara. “Cut off her curls and give her two black eyes.”
The three girls pounced on Mollie. There was a real tom-boy romp which ended in a burst of joyous laughter. For Miss Sallie’s familiar rap-tap was heard on the door. Her voice was raised in mild protest:
“Children, remember that this is a hotel.”
The girls subsided.
“Do you suppose it would be good form to call on the countess to-morrow, when we met her only this afternoon?” asked Ruth, as soon as she had regained her breath.
“It would be rather rushing things,” answered Barbara.
“If you will be good, and promise not to lay violent hands on me again, I will tell you something,” Mollie volunteered.
“We promise,” cried three voices in unison.
“The countess is going to ask us to luncheon to-morrow. She whispered it to me just before we left her villa this afternoon.”