"Where do you suppose Becky Hawkins is? She hasn't been here to-day, and she's always here, and so punctual."
"Mebbe she's taken it into her head to leave," answered Matty. "'T would be just like her; she's that independent."
"Catch her leaving when she'd have anything to lose. She'd lose a week's pay to leave without warning, and she knows it. She's too sharp to do that," put in Josie, laughing,
"I hope she ain't sick," said Lizzie.
"Sick! her kind don't get sick easy. Those Cove streeters are tough. Lizzie, how much did she get out of you for showing you how to make that basket?"
"Why, what I agreed to give,—enough to make a basket for herself; and last night, when she was going home, I gave her some of my Mayflowers,—I had plenty."
"Well, I'm sure you are real generous."
"No, I'm not; it was a bargain."
"Yes, Becky's bargain, and she'd like to have made a bargain with the rest of us. The idea of taking you off into that fitting-room, so't the rest of us wouldn't profit by her showing you, and then her talking about private lessons!"
"Oh, that was only her fun."