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Oh, goodness! gasped Tess. Lem-u-el , Dot!
But Dot ignored the correction. It was awfully nice of them to give us the car because we found the fortune in our garret.
Lots you did towards finding it, chuckled Neale ONeil.
Id like to know why I didnt help find it! cried the smallest Corner House girl, indignantly. I saw it first so there! I opened the book it was hid in and I thought it was pitchers.
Say! that isnt getting us anywhere, began the boy again. Cant you hurry? Just think! the first ride in your car!
Dont remind me, gasped Agnes, cutting a crooked slice. My nerves are all jumping now like like a delightful toothache !
Glory! listen to her, laughed Neale. But say, Miss Ruthiford Ten -ways, why do you say that it is my fault that you are not all ready?
Because we have to put up lunch enough to satisfy your appetite, said Ruth, running cold water on the eggs from the open faucet.
Well! I like that! said Neale.
I fancy you will, sonny, said Agnes, looking at him slyly. There are lots of goodies in it.
Now run and get your hats and wraps, children, commanded Ruth seizing the last two slices of bread Agnes had cut. That will do, Aggie. Leave a little bread for the folks to eat to-day while were gone. That basket is all packed, Neale, and you may take it out and put it in the tonneau.
Oh, my! gasped Agnes, clasping her hands. Doesnt that sound fine?
What sounds fine! asked her boy chum, surreptitiously putting the last crumb of a broken sandwich he had found into his mouth.
The way Ruth said tonneau. So so Frenchy and automobily !
Why, Aggie! gasped Tess, in amazement, before following Dot out of the kitchen, youre making up words just like Dot does.
I feel like making up words, laughed Agnes, who had been crazy for a car for months and months! Well all be talking about tonneaus, and carbureters, and gas, and wiring, and differentials, and
And equilaterals, and isosceles triangles, and all that, scoffed Neale. Youll know a hot lot about an automobile, Agamemnon.
Come, young man! exclaimed Ruth, tartly, for she was very exact with boys, feeling sure that she did not approve of them much, suppose you take the basket out to the car and these wraps and this coffee and the little nursery icebox with the milk bottles and
Hold on! Hold on! yelled Neale ONeil. What do you think I have as many arms as a spider? I cant do it all in one trip.
Well, you might make a beginning, suggested Ruth. Come, Aggie. Dont moon there all day.
Im not, said her next youngest sister. Im thinking.
Whats the difference? demanded Neale, filling his arms with several of the things indicated by Ruth and making for the door.
I was thinking, said Agnes, quite seriously for her, what a difference this is from what we were before we came to Milton and the old Corner House to live.
Neale had gone out. Ruth looked at her with softer eyes. Ruth was not exactly pretty, but she had a very sweet face. Everybody said so. Now she looked her understanding at Agnes.
I know, dear I know, she said, in her low, full, sweet voice. This is like another world.
Or a dream, said Agnes. Do do you suppose well ever wake up, Ruthie, and find out its all been make-believe?
Ruth laughed
outright at that and went over and kissed her. Dont let your imagination run away with you, the older sister said. It is all real very real indeed. What could be more real than an automobile and of our very own?
Dot came dancing into the room hugging a doll in her arms and cheerfully humming a school song.
There! exclaimed Agnes, coming out of the clouds, I suppose that disreputable Alice-doll has got to go along. It does look awful.
Dot stopped her song at once and her lips pouted.
She isnt dis disreputble she isnt! she cried, stormily. Shes only sick. How would you like it, Aggie Kenway, if youd been buried alive and with dried apples and had had your complexion spoiled?
Dot was usually the most peaceful of mortals; but Agnes had touched a sore spot.
Never mind; you shall take her, love, Ruth said.
I suppose if we want to go off on a real tour by and by this coming vacation Dotll have to lug that Alice-doll, grumbled Agnes. Suppose we meet nice people at some of the hotels we stop at, and other little girls have dolls? Dots will look as though she came from Meadow Street. Meadow Street was in a poor section of Milton.
I dont care, grumbled Dot; shes going.
She ought to go a hospital first, declared Agnes.
Who ought to go to a hospital? demanded Neale, coming in again.
My Alice-doll, Neale, cried Dot, running to him, sure of sympathy of a kind, at least.
Well, said the boy, why not? If folks go to hospitals and get cured, why not dolls?
Oh, Neale ONeil! gasped Dot, hugging her cherished doll closer.
Just think how nice Mrs. Eland was to folks in her hospital, went on Neale, his eyes twinkling. And Doctor Forsyth. A hospital is a mighty fine place.
But but what would they do to my Alice-doll? asked the smallest girl, seriously.
Suppose they should give her a new complexion? Make her quite well again? Wouldnt that be worth while?