"What, with a whole summer full of blessed idleness before you?" mocked Betty.
"Too much idleness," grumbled Grace. "That's the trouble."
"Enter," said Betty drolly, "Doctor Elizabeth Nelson."
Grace digested this remark for a moment, staring at the telephone in much the same manner as Mollie had done a few minutes before. Then she swallowed the last of her chocolate in such haste that it almost choked her.
"Betty," she said, "I have heard you use that tone before. Is there really something in the wind?"
"Come and see," said Betty and a click at the other end of the wire told Grace that the conversation was over.
"Oh bother!" she cried, her pretty forehead drawn into a frown. "Now I suppose I've got to get dressed and go over there before I can find out what she meant."
In the hall she nearly ran into her mother, who was dressed to go out. Mrs. Ford was a handsome woman, prominent in the social circles of Deepdale. She was kindly and sympathetic, and all who knew her loved her.
So now, as she regarded her mother, a loving smile erased the frown from Grace's forehead.
"I declare, Mother, you look younger than I do," she said fondly. "Whither away so early?"