Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/70

56 After telephoning, Brenda learned that Frances had sent to the station in Lynn; but after waiting ten minutes  the coachman (seconded by Edith) had decided that the  two girls from Rockley had changed their plans. Had they inquired of the station master, they might have  learned of the enforced delay.

“But we won’t scold them for that,” and Nora smiled as she thought of their funny trip in the omnibus.

While they waited in the little shop they found that the old woman, although not a cook, was a laundress, and  that she had gone to Lynn that morning to get some fruit for a sick daughter. “I did n’t mind when they gave me all that change,” she said, “for I had n’t any intention of  spilling it; but, thanks to you young ladies, I’m no worse  off now than I was before.”

While they waited for the carriage, Mrs. Moriarty explained, still further, that her son had asked her to turn the five-dollar bill into small change in Lynn, and this  accounted for the shower of coin. “He needs an awful sight of small change in the shop,” she had explained;  “but I never expected to put the likes of you, real ladies,  to so much trouble.”

“Oh, I’m sure that we were very happy,” said Nora; but both she and Brenda gave a sigh of relief as they saw  the Pounder’s carriage approaching. Frances and Belle were standing at the front entrance to the grounds as they  drove up. With their white piqué skirts and becoming shirt waists, with their faces wreathed in smiles, they  looked so attractive that it would have been hard for the