Page:Carroll Rankin--Dandelion Cottage.djvu/234

 210  and a torrent of tears, she buried her face in Jean's apron.

"Bettie," asked Jean with her arms about Mabel, "do you think it would do any good to ask your father about it? He's the minister, you know, and he might explain to Mr. Downing that we were promised the cottage for all summer."

"Papa went away this morning and won't be home for ten days. He has exchanged with somebody for the next two Sundays."

"My pa—pa—papa's away, too," sobbed Mabel, "or he'd tell that vile Mr. Downing that it was all the Mill—ill—igans' fault. They're the folks that ought to be turned out, and I just wuh—wuh—wish they—they had been."

"Why wouldn't it be a good idea," suggested Marjory, "for us all to go down to Mr. Downing's office and tell him all about it. You see, he hasn't lived here very long and perhaps he doesn't understand that we have paid our rent for all summer."