“This is too serious a matter to be turned into a joke, children. I—”
What Mrs. Porter intended to say, however, was left unsaid, at least for the moment, for before she could proceed, the door opened and in burst several young people.
“Hurry and finish your suppers; we want you to go canoeing,” exclaimed one of the girls. Then, as she noticed that Mrs. Porter seemed about to refuse, she added: “Now you mustn’t say ‘no,’ Momsy Porter. It’s concert night, and we can’t go unless you let Sallie and Margie and the boys go, mother said so.”
“We’re going to sow wheat instead,” asserted Margie.
“That will do, daughter,” rebuked her mother. “I—”
“You will let them, won’t you?” begged another girl.
“Yes. Dr. Blair is coming to talk with me, so I shall not be left alone.”
With a swish of skirts the girls swooped upon the frail little woman, almost smothering her with their hugs and kisses, then rushed away, her “be careful!” ringing in their ears as they trooped off, the boys trailing behind, their arms loaded with cushions.
CHAPTER II
TEMPTATION