“Here are your dresses, child,” she said. “You looked so sweet it would be a shame for you and Louise not to keep them. I’ll make it up to Nataly.”
Winona threw her arms around Miss Lawrence’s neck, and kissed her.
“Thank you, dear fairy godmother!” she said.
A more astonished pair of boys than Lonny and Tom it would have been hard to find. It did not take long to explain matters. In a few moments they had Winona in the canoe between Tom and Billy, while Lonny rowed Louise in the boat. The girls held the boat and the canoe together. As they went Louise and Winona told the tale of their day’s work.
When they were done Louise pulled out the money they had made, and began to count it.
“You have some, too, Win,” she said.
“I know,” said Winona, “I have what Billy gave me, that the bellboy made. But I don’t believe it’s a lot.”
“Better count it,” counselled Tom, and Winona did. When she was through she looked up with an awed expression.
“Nearly ten dollars more!” she announced. “Oh, Louise, there must be some mistake! Why, if we both really have made all that, there’s enough for another three weeks’ camping!”
“And orders ahead!” said Louise serenely. “It will take Marie and Adelaide more of their time than they’ll want to spare from fancy diving and telling the birds from the wild-flowers, to make jelly and runners. I tell you, folks, I’m going to be an Italian porch-worker from now on. It pays. Sella da fina crock—getta da bigga price—blowa it in!”