Dora did as she was bid, but finding Katie stripping the beds, she offered to help her make them. When this was done, she dusted and put her own little "den" tidy, and then went down stairs to begin her practice. She did not grumble, as she often did, at being obliged to perform this duty in a cold room, and scales and exercises were patiently repeated till her fingers felt delightfully warm and lissom. But she was not sorry to shut the piano and go in search of her mother. She found her in the kitchen. Katie was there, too, washing currants for the pudding.
"Shall we start now, mother?" Dora asked.
"Yes, I think so. Will it be too much trouble to take Phil?"
"In the perambulator, do you mean?"
"He certainly could not walk to the Park and back. Katie will take her turn at pushing him."
At the mention of her own name, Katie looked up quickly.
"But, mother," she exclaimed, "Connie Pafford said she might perhaps call for me to go for a walk with her."
"So you said yesterday, dear, but she didn't come."
"No; and that is why I think she is sure to call this morning."
"I do not know that I should be sorry, Katie, if she should come and find you out," said Mrs. Grainger, somewhat gravely.