Dr. Hale was out and Dora seemed out of reach, which was fortunate for Barbara. She would not have had them hear of her trouble for anything.
“I’ll be ready in a minute, Miss Davis,” she told her caller. “We’ll go over to the pavilion and I’ll phone Cara Burke. She’ll drive me out to where the Italians live, but there really isn’t any use of your coming. It’s an awful place to go.” She didn’t want Miss Davis to go. She felt her presence would have hindered her greatly in her search for Nicky.
“But I must go,” insisted the woman. “I wouldn’t wait any place, I’m too nervous,” and she almost pulled the brim off her hat in an attempt to get it on her head. “Yes, I’ll go right along. I’ve got to keep moving. You’ve no idea what it means to me. Why, we were offered a pile of money for that little model, but, of course, we wouldn’t think of selling it. Oh, dear,” and she jabbed her handkerchief against her cheek, “why ever did I do such a thing! Pride, just foolish pride. Wanted to show it off. Well, this is what I get for it.”
She talked and talked, and Barbara was almost as nervous as was the woman herself. If her father should come back he would have to hear all the story, and if Dora came back she would listen to every word that she could catch.
“Come on, Miss Davis,” said Barbara, squatting her little felt hat on her head without even knowing she was doing it. “Of course I’m awfully sorry, terribly. But still, I can’t feel it is my fault; I just followed your advice you know, and it was my idea that you shouldn’t have left the model there.”
“Oh, I know it. Don’t make me feel worse——”
“I don’t want you to feel any worse, you know that, Miss Davis,” Barbara interrupted, for indeed she was very sorry enough for the poor, distressed little lady. “I merely want it to be understood that I didn’t and couldn’t take the responsibility of any goods left there. We girls are only supposed to do the things that the ladies tell us to do. You see, we are merely a sub-committee.”
“But, thank goodness, you were there and that I didn’t confide in any of the women,” exclaimed Miss Davis. “If I had told that to a single woman, Tillie would be dying of grief now. Women can’t keep anything to themselves,” she declared a little surprisingly, under the circumstances.
“Don’t you suppose your sister will miss it from the cabinet?”
“No, not for this week, because she left for Blueberry Corners this very morning. That’s the only comfort. If I’ll only be able to get it back before she gets back. Do hurry, dear. I don’t know what I’m saying I’m so upset. I hope I wasn’t cross to you?”