“Why?” demanded Marita.
“Because by letting other people talk about it we may be able to trace the perpetrators. We could easily find out who knew it had happened, in that way.”
“Oh, I see,” Marita answered vaguely, although her tone did not indicate comprehension. “Freda and Mrs. Lewis are going out; aren’t they?” This question implied “why” also.
“Yes,” Cora answered again. “They have some business to attend to. I told them not to hurry back for lunch—we would attend to it. We really need the exercise.”
“But I am going canoeing directly after lunch,” Lottie objected.
“After lunch?” repeated Belle. “This will be before lunch—the getting ready.”
“Oh, you know what I mean,” Lottie grumbled. “It makes one’s hands so horrid to handle cooking things.”
“Were you going to paddle?” asked Cora, innocently.
“I was going to try,” admitted Lottie.
“Then your hands will be in better shape from some active work,” Cora added, mischievously. “It is awful to try to paddle with soft hands.”