Both he and Penny were gloomy at the prospect of replacing the housekeeper. Not only would they miss Mrs. Weems but they honestly believed that she would never be happy without two incorrigibles and a home to manage.
“Dad,” Penny ventured when they were alone, “just supposing that Mrs. Weems’ money should mysteriously disappear—”
“Don’t allow your mind to dwell on that idea,” cut in her father sternly. “We’ll play fair.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t do it,” said Penny hastily. “I was only joking. But if something should happen to the money, it would solve all our problems.”
“Mrs. Weems has earned her vacation. Even though it will be hard to lose her, we mustn’t stand in her way.”
“I guess you’re right,” sighed Penny.
The following day Miss Hilderman resumed her duties at the Star, and Penny once more found herself a person of leisure. To her annoyance, Mrs. Weems insisted that she spend many hours in the kitchen, learning how to bake pies and cakes. A particularly distasteful lesson came to an end only when Penny, with brilliant inspiration, remembered that the housekeeper had an appointment with the seamstress.
“Dear me, I had forgotten it!” exclaimed Mrs. Weems. “Yes, I must try on my new dresses!”
“I’ll drive you over,” offered Penny.
Not in recent days had the girl called upon the Hodges. As she and Mrs. Weems alighted from the car, they both noticed freshly ironed curtains at the windows. Mr. Hodges was pounding dust from a carpet on the line.