“All of you can walk,” came faintly from Mrs. Carter. “Just leave me here alone. I don’t fancy anything much will happen to me.”
“But Mumsy, only a quarter of a mile!” begged Lucy.
“Why, my child, I never expect to walk more than a few blocks again as long as I live.”
Mr. Carter looked pained and ended by staying with his wife while the four girls and Bobby trooped off to find someone to send for them.
“Why does Mother say she never expects to walk more than a few blocks again as long as she lives?” blurted out Lucy. “Is she sick? She looks to me like she’s getting fat.”
“Tell her that,” suggested Nan, “and I bet you she will find she can walk a teensy little more than a few blocks.”
CHAPTER II
THE LANDLADIES AND A NEW ACQUAINTANCE
“This is a long quarter of a mile,” said Nan, trying to keep up with her more athletic sisters.