There was a joyful ring in Nan's voice that jarred upon Jo's mood of depression.
"Go get your hat," Sadie added. "It's too nice a day to waste in the house. We're going for a walk."
"All right," said Jo, and turned back into the house to get her hat, all unsuspecting of what was in store for her.
CHAPTER VII
THE SURPRISE
Sadie Appleby and Nan Harrison waited below stairs, chatting with Mrs. Morley while in her room above Jo crushed a felt hat over her dark hair and regarded her reflection with an air of discouragement.
"You look like a wreck," she told her mirrored self. "If you could get a little color in your face you might not look quite so much like a ghost."
As Jo reached the head of the stairs she paused for a moment to listen to the merry chatter of Nan and Sadie. Despite herself she felt hurt that they should feel so gay when they could not help knowing how downhearted she must be. Yesterday they had seemed to care whether she went to Laurel Hall with them or not. To-day they appeared quite reconciled to her staying home. Was it possible that Nan and Sadie, the two chums from whom she had rarely ever been separated during their years of work and fun together, should care so little for her as their manner seemed to imply? If they did not care, then she would show them that neither did she!
Jo shrugged her shoulders impatiently and forced a smile to her quivering lips. She must not—must not!—allow herself to become morbid!
So it was a rather strained though smiling Jo who met her friends at the foot of the stairs.