"I am sure I have no right to compare myself with flowers," answered the other pleasantly, for she always admired her friend's poetic ideas, although other people might laugh at them.
"Shows she is thoughtful, anyway," Dorothy would tell herself, "and that is what Ralph meant when he said she could not make serious mistakes when she followed the advice of her kind heart."
The Dale house could be seen through the trees now. Voices were heard outside; perhaps the boys playing some games.
"I'll leave you here," said Tavia, "you are not afraid of bugaboos are you?"
"Not a bit," answered Dorothy, laughing. "Be sure to be on time at school to-morrow. No use adding coals to the fire."
"It depends on whether you intend to wash, bake, or iron. Now I am going to do all three at school to-morrow, so I may as well keep up a good, warm fire;" and giving her chum a hearty hug Tavia started off.
Dorothy stopped as she neared the piazza.
Surely that was a strange voice. A man was talking very earnestly to her father.
It was Miles Burlock!