CHAPTER XI—NORMA AND FRANCES LAUNCH THEMSELVES
Frances lost no time in putting her idea for business into operation, so she wrote her father that night, asking him to let her have the automobile at Green Hill Farm for the summer instead of storing it with some big garage company. She did not say that she wished to start a service route to earn money, but she did say that there was a fine barn on the farm where the car could be kept, and it would give them all such pleasure to be able to drive about the lovely country in Westchester.
No one was shown this letter, but Frances insisted upon walking to the Corners with it that night, to get it out on the first early morning mail to New York.
“Let’s all walk to the store with Frans,” suggested Janet, jumping up to show her readiness to go.
“That will give me the chance to get some slips that Mrs. Tompkins promised us the other day,” added Natalie.
“And we can introduce Norma, Belle, and Frances to Nancy Sherman and Hester Tompkins,” added Janet.
So the girls hastily arranged their hair and started out, with Mrs. James to escort them. The country road was very alluring in the twilight, but there were no gorgeous colors from a flaring sunset that evening, as the grey overcast sky had continued all day.
They tramped along the foot-path that ran beside the road and Norma said jokingly: “When we hiked this from the station we never dreamed we would be retracing our steps so soon.”
“It seems almost as if we had been at Green Hill a month, doesn’t it?” said Frances.
Just at this moment Janet gave a sudden gasp. “Oh me, oh my! I must run right back home, girls!”