The boys were asked, but they did not take them. Ned was almost
two now, and Junior past three, and they behaved beautifully with
Hannah, the quiet old Danish woman who had been with them since
they came back from the woods, the year before. Nancy, full of
excited anticipation, packed her suit-case daintily, and fluttered
downstairs as happily as a girl, when a hundredth glance at the
street showed the waiting motor at last.
Hawkes was the chauffeur. "To Mr. Bradley's office please,
Hawkes," said Nancy. She could not think of anything friendly to
say to him, as they wheeled through the streets. Bert kept them
waiting, and once or twice she said "I can't think what's delaying
Mr. Bradley." But Hawkes did not answer.
Presently Bert came out and greeted Nancy and Hawkes.
"But I thought Mrs. Benchley was coming into town to-day," Bert
said. Dorothy was now Mrs. George Benchley. Hawkes spoke at last.
"An old friend of Mrs. Benchley has unexpectedly arrived this
morning, sir, and she has changed her mind." "Oh, all right," said
Bert, grinning at Nancy as the pleasant drive began.
It was all wonderful; the bright autumn sunshine, the sense of
freedom and leisure in the early afternoon, and the lovely roads
they followed.
Pages:
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62