“Cheer up, Molliekins!” exclaimed Bab.  “I’ve found a way out of the difficulty.”

“Oh, Bab,” said Mollie in a shamed voice.  “Did you have to tell Ruth?”

“No, dear,” responded Bab.  “Ruth knows nothing about it.  Bathe your face at once.  It is almost time to go down to luncheon, and your eyes are awfully red.  While you are fixing up I’ll tell you about it.”

“Oh, Bab!” Mollie said contritely when her sister had finished her account of what had happened in the study.  “You’re the best sister a girl ever had.  I don’t believe I’ll ever be so silly about my clothes again.  This has cured me.  I’m so sorry.”

“Of course you are, little Sister,” soothed Bab.  “Don’t say another word.  Here comes Ruth and Grace.”

The two girls entered the room at that moment and a little later the four descended to luncheon.

“I am going to do some shopping this afternoon,” announced Ruth.  “Would you girls like to do the stores with me?”

“I’ll go,” replied Grace.  “I want to buy a pair of white gloves and I need a number of small things.”

“I have an engagement this afternoon,” said Harriet enigmatically.  “I must ask you to excuse me, Ruth.”

“Certainly, Harriet,” returned Ruth.  “How about you and Mollie, Bab?”

“Mollie can go with you,” answered Bab, coloring slightly.  “But would you be disappointed if I do not go?  I have something else that I am obliged to see to this afternoon.”

“Of course, I’d love to have you with me, Bab, but you know your own business best.”

Suspecting that Bab wished to spend the afternoon in going over her own and Mollie’s rather limited wardrobe, Ruth made no attempt to persuade Bab to make one of the shopping party, and when a little later A. Bubble carried the three girls away, she went directly upstairs to prepare for her call on Mrs. Wilson.  It was a beautiful afternoon, and Bab decided that she would walk to her destination.  As she swung along through the crisp December air the feeling of depression that had clung to her ever since Mollie had made her tearful confession vanished, and Bab became almost cheerful.  She would save every penny, she reflected hopefully, and when she and Mollie received their next month’s pocket money, she would send that to Mrs. Wilson.  It would take some time to pay back the fifty dollars, but Mrs. Wilson had assured her that she could return it at her own convenience.  Bab felt that her vague distrust of this whole-souled, generous woman had been groundless, and in her impulsive, girlish fashion she was ready to do everything in her power to make amends for even doubting this fascinating stranger who had so nobly come to her rescue.

By following carefully the directions given her by Mrs. Wilson for finding her house, Bab arrived at her destination with very little confusion.  She looked at her watch as she ascended the steps and saw that it was just half past four o’clock.  “I’m on time at any rate,” she murmured as she rang the bell.