However, the skis were not from her father. Among the wrappings she found a card with Mr. Eckenrod’s name.
“Try these for size,” the artist had scrawled in an almost illegible hand. “Thanks for pulling me out of a hole! My leg is mending rapidly, so don’t forget our date!”
“Oh, the darling!” Penny cried. “Mighty decent of him to replace the skis I broke! Only I’m afraid I won’t get to use them many times. It’s thawing fast today.”
Slipping her slim ankles through the leather bindings, she glided awkwardly about the polished linoleum.
“How soon’s luncheon?” she asked impatiently. “I want to go skiing right away!”
“I’ll put it on after I’ve telephoned Jake Cotton,” the housekeeper promised. “He failed to show up here today.”
“Jake Cotton, the carpenter?”
“Yes, your father ordered another bookcase for the den. Jake promised to build it last week. He’s always putting other jobs ahead.”
After telephoning, Mrs. Weems toasted sandwiches and made hot chocolate. Penny ate rapidly, as was her habit when thinking of other matters.
“You won’t need any help with the dishes,” she said hopefully when the meal was over.