Sally giggled again. "Yes," she returned, "if I'm not gone too long. I came on an errand."
Professor Ladue lost somewhat of his gayety. "State your errand, Sally. I hope—"
But the professor neglected to state what he had hoped. Sally stated her errand with her customary directness.
"Mother wants me to go to dancing-school. Can I?"
"I suppose," returned Professor Ladue airily, "that you can go wherever your legs will carry you. I see no indications of your inability in that direction or in any other. Whether you may go is another question."
Sally did not smile. "Well, then, may I? Have you any objection? Will you let me go?"
"That is a matter which deserves more consideration. Why do you wish to go?"
"Only because mother wants me to," Sally answered. "I like to please mother."
"Oh," said the professor. "Ah! And what, if I may ask, are your own inclinations in the matter?"
"Well," replied Sally slowly. "I—it doesn't seem to me that it would be very interesting to go there just because a lot of other children go. I could have a lot better time playing by myself. That is, I—of course, there's Henrietta, but Margaret Savage is stupid. But," she added hastily, "I do want to go because mother wants me to."