“I know it, but I was sorry for her. She seemed so brash and lonesome at the same time. I thought it might help her some to mingle with a few fine, intelligent, well-bred girls like you——”
“Here, here! Don’t try to get out of it that way.”
“She appears to be very learned,” continued Molly, turning her blue eyes innocently from one to the other. “I thought it would be nice to pit her against Margaret and Edith. She discusses deep subjects and uses big words I can only dimly guess the meaning of——” There was a tap at the door. “Now, be nice, please.”
“Come in,” called Nance, in a tone of authority, and Minerva Higgins appeared in their midst.
She had done honor to the occasion by putting on a taffeta silk of indigo blue, and by pinning on some of her most conspicuous gold medals acquired at intervals during her early education.
Judy shook her head over the indigo blue.
“Only certain minds could wear it,” she thought.
Molly rose, but before she could frame a cordial greeting, the new guest was saying:
“How do you do, Molly? Awfully nice of you to ask me. You don’t mind my calling you by your first name, do you? My name is Minerva but the girls at Mill Town High School called me ‘Minnie.’ I hope you’ll do the same.”
“I shall be glad to,” answered Molly, rather taken back by this sudden intimacy.