“I like her very,” agreed Mrs. Adlerfeld.  “She has been nice to me a many times.  If she goes to marry, I think it will no harm anybody, and I wish her the best things in the world.”

The little Swedish woman voiced the larger number of Mrs. Dick’s associates in the Home.  Slighting remarks were heard from Miss Castlevaine and a few others, but in almost any case they were to be expected.

On the second day of Mrs. Dick’s absence Miss Crilly appeared in Mrs. Bonnyman’s room, where some half-dozen of the ladies were chatting.

“She is married!” she announced in a stage whisper,—­“married to the milkman—­oh! oh! oh!” Miss Crilly sat down in the midst of eager questioning.

“They say she wrote a note to Miss Sniffen yesterday, but I didn’t get my news from her—­no, sir-ee!  It came pretty straight, though,—­I guess it’s so all right.”

“What’d you say, Mis’ Albright?  Yes, she was married day before yesterday—­went to the minister’s!  She told somebody she just couldn’t stand it here another minute.”

“I wonder if she’s ever seen him much,” said Miss Major.

“My, yes!  She’s known him for years—­used to be her milkman when she kept house!  He isn’t any stranger!  Oh, don’t I wish I could see her!”

“Maybe she will come over and call on us,” observed Mrs. Prindle.

“If she dares,” spoke up Mrs. Bonnyman.

“Well, I’m glad for her!” declared Miss Crilly.  “Wouldn’t it feel good to be cut loose from rules!  Dear me!  We’re so tied up it seems, sometimes’s if I must scream!”

“I don’t think people outside know how things go here,” put in Miss Mullaly.  “Why, everybody congratulated me on getting in!  I thought I was going to have the time of my life!” She laughed deprecatingly.

“It is the time of our lives—­the worst time!” snapped Miss Major.

“Well folks can get along some way,” said Miss Sterling; “but Heaven save the sick ones!”

CHAPTER XIII

ALONG A BROOKSIDE ROAD

“Oh, here you are!” cried Polly from the doorway, just beyond Mrs. Bonnyman.

“Been looking for me?” Miss Sterling smiled,

“Everywhere!” Polly dropped beside her friend.  “No, Mrs. Bonnyman, don’t get a chair for me!  I like this!  Besides, I’m not going to stay.  It’s too lovely outside to be cooped up in the house.  Why can’t we all go to walk?”

“Oh, that’s the ticket!” Miss Crilly jumped up.  “I’ll have to change my togs first—­will you wait for me?”

Polly nodded and smiled, as Miss Crilly skipped off.

“Will you all go?”

Miss Sterling rose.

“You will, Miss Nita?” Polly clung to her hand.

“Yes, but not with this dress on.”

“I bid many thanks to you,” said Mrs. Adlerfeld quaintly; “I shall like to go very.”  Having made sure of the others, Polly ran off to make her invitation general, stopping at various doors on her way downstairs.