“You and Rhoda have fixed the house up so nicely,” she said. “You’ve been very kind to me, and so have all the folks in Riverview.”
“You have a great many friends, Mrs. Marborough,” Penny replied, smiling. “You never gave them a chance to show it before.”
“Perhaps I have been unfriendly,” the widow acknowledged. “I didn’t mean to be. Now that I’d like to show my appreciation, there’s no way to do it. If only the police would get busy and find the rascal who stole my necklace—”
Penny did not reply immediately, for she could think of nothing encouraging to say. She and Rhoda both believed that the thief who had taken the pearls never would be apprehended.
“Mrs. Marborough,” she said at length, “there is a way you could show the people of Riverview how you feel—but I’m sure you wouldn’t care to do it.”
“By opening my home for the Pilgrimage?” the widow asked, smiling.
“That’s what I had in mind, but of course—”
“When is the Festival?” Mrs. Marborough broke in. “I’ve lost track of time since I’ve been sick.”
“It starts day after tomorrow.” Penny drew a deep sigh. “I’m afraid the Festival may be a failure, for not half enough tickets have been sold.”
“Would it help to include this house in the Pilgrimage?”