"Of course," murmured Mollie. "Isn't that the telephone ringing, Grace?" for they were all on the front steps.
"Yes. I'll see who it is," said Amy. "Maybe they want one of you girls. Wait!"
"Can't have any of 'em—all taken," declared Will.
"It's you they want, Mollie," reported Amy, coming back. "It's your mother, and she seems to be in trouble."
"Trouble?" Mollie's voice trembled.
"Yes. Oh, dear! I'm sure she was crying!" and Amy's voice faltered, for she was very tender-hearted.
Mollie went to the telephone. The others listened anxiously for an inkling of what the message might be.
"What!" cried Mollie. "Paul missing—he must have gone out right after I did! Oh, dear! And it's beginning to snow!"
"Girls!" she cried, turning to the others, and letting the receiver fall with a bang, "little Paul is missing—mother thinks he went out of doors. Oh, that poor child!"