"Just my idea," Grace was beginning, unmoved, when Mrs. Irving's voice sounded at the door.
"Seven o'clock," she announced cheerily. "And you know we decided to get an early start."
For the next hour all was hurry and excitement while four girlish tongues clattered unceasingly.
"Have you fully decided to join the Red Cross, Betty?" queried Amy.
"Why, of course. Haven't you?" asked the Little Captain, slipping on the skirt to her pretty traveling suit and fastening it deftly. "I'm going to make dozens and dozens of scarfs, sweaters and socks. The boys are giving up everything for us, and I'm sure the least we can do is, keep them warm."
"Oh, I can't wait to begin," cried Mollie. "I'm so excited all the time about the war and everything, I can't sit still—"
"You've got to, if you're going to knit," grumbled Grace. "And you can't eat candy, either, Mollie Billette."
"Oh, look who's talking," crowed Mollie. "If that's true, and the poor soldiers had to depend upon you to keep them warm, I'd feel sorry for them, that's all."
"Oh, I don't know," defended Betty, putting an arm about Grace, and starting for the door. "Grace believes in quality more than quantity. She may not knit as much as the rest of us, but she does it twice as well."
Grace laughed and hugged her friend as they ran down the stairs together.