Winona smiled and shook her head. "I like it," she said.

The old lady sat down by her and took her hand. Louise, meanwhile, out of hearing, was trying to sell a very lopsided basket to an elderly gentleman.

"My child," she said, "I can't help feeling that you're too intelligent and too refined-looking for a life like this. I am sure you are not an Italian. Is there nothing I could do to help you?"

Winona felt very uncomfortable. She hadn't bargained for having people take a personal interest in her.

"Really there isn't anything," she answered truthfully. "I have a very good time. I can't tell you all about it, but indeed, I have a very pleasant life."

But the old lady was not to be daunted.

"My dear child, there is something very attractive about you," she said.

"I believe with the proper education you would become an unusually charming young girl. You are young enough still to be trained. Is that girl with you your sister?"

"Oh, no," said Winona, wondering what next.

"I thought as much," said the old lady. "You don't look like sisters.

You're naturally of a better cla.s.s than she is. Now, supposing that someone who could do a good deal for you took you and had you educated, do you think you would be a good girl and do them credit?"

Winona did not know in the least what to say. It looked as if the old lady intended to adopt her before she could escape.

"It would be awfully nice," she said, uncomfortably, "and very kind.

But-indeed, I couldn't!"

The old lady had begun to speak again, when a clatter of hasty feet on the steps behind them made her and Winona both turn around and look.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "WILLIAM!" SAID HIS AUNT, "DO YOU KNOW THIS-THIS YOUNG PERSON?"]

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It was only a tall boy in the uniform of the Boy Scouts who was tearing up the steps. But both the old lady and Winona uttered a faint squeal, the old lady because he kissed her, and Winona because she recognized the newcomer. It was Billy Lee, and he was evidently a relative of Winona's would-be benefactress.

"How are you, auntie, and how's everything?" he was inquiring genially, with an arm still about her. Winona gazed wildly around, meanwhile, for a hole to crawl into, but there was none. "You see, I've come to dinner," went on Billy cheerfully.

By this time he had swung around, and seen Winona. He took in her whole get-up, earrings, 'kerchief, sagging skirt, checked ap.r.o.n; and, further off, Louise making change energetically in the same regalia. He began to laugh.

"Good for you, Winona!" he said. "Been selling Camp Fire stuff?"

"William!" said his aunt before Winona could answer, "Do you know this-this young person?"

Billy looked embarra.s.sed.

"Oh, say, Winnie, I'm afraid I've put my foot in it," said he. But he went on telling the truth-Billy was unfortunately incapable of doing anything else. At least, it seemed unfortunate to Winona right then.

"Why, yes, Aunt Lydia. This is Winona Merriam, who lives next door to us. She's camping about a mile and a half down the river from us Scouts."

The old lady turned sharply on Winona.

"Then what makes you masquerade as an Italian peddler?" she asked sharply.

Winona took courage, for though the old lady was cross, she did not seem unforgivingly angry.

"We thought if we dressed up perhaps people would buy things quicker,"

she explained. "But we do really need the money very badly, don't we, Billy?"

"They're trying to make enough to stay in the woods all August, auntie,"

explained Billy. "They've all been working like beavers, making things, to do it."

"I don't see yet why the bandanna handkerchiefs," said the old lady tartly. "And you, miss"-to Louise, who had come up-"what did you mean by telling me that you were the eldest of five, and hadn't slept under a roof for ten days?"

"Because it's true," said Louise. "I haven't-we're camping. And I _am_ the eldest of five, worse luck! I have to spend my whole time at home setting an example. That's why I go away to be naughty!"

It was impossible to be angry long with Louise Lane, and the old lady did not seem to want to be angry with Winona. So things straightened themselves out, and actually ended in an invitation to stay to dinner!

"But we've nothing but our middy blouses, under these awful things,"

protested Winona, "and Mrs. Bryan will be worried if we don't get home till late."

"That's all right," said Billy's aunt Lydia, whose name was Lawrence.

She was Mrs. Lee's sister. "I'll have them send a man down from the dock to tell your Guardian where you are."

"Oh, then thank you!" said Winona radiantly. But Louise still hesitated.

"Well, what is it?" asked the old lady.

Louise hung her shawl-draped head for a moment, then she flung it back and answered frankly.

"I may want to come peddling again, and if they see us in our camp uniform they'll know who we are!"

"Great Scott!" cried Billy, beginning to laugh, "You _are_ a queer girl!

I say, Aunt Lydia, let her disguise herself some more, if that's what she wants. Give her some of your clothes, or the chambermaid's, or somebody's. Would that be all right, Louise?"

"Why, yes indeed!" said Louise, grinning joyously. "Lead on, Desperate Desmond."

"I never saw such girls!" said Miss Lawrence. "However, you may as well have your play out. William, get a bellboy to put these goods somewhere.

I'll take these objects of charity to get ready for dinner. Your room's next suite twelve, the one I have."

She shepherded the two girls upstairs by the staircase, instead of the elevator, as if she wanted them to be conspicuous.

"Now, remember," explained she, "you're two young foreign peddlers that I'm giving a dinner to out of the kindness of my heart. I'm loaning you clothes out of the same thing. So you can go right on peddling if you want to, you with the business instinct-Louise you said your name was?

Very well, Louise, you can go on selling your potteries and bead bags after dinner-if you want to. But I want to talk to Winona myself. I don't know but I still want to adopt her!"

Miss Lawrence left the girls alone when she had shown them to a room, and went to prepare for dinner herself. There was a bathroom next to them, and they made for it-one after another, of course-with gurgles of joy. Winona went first, while Louise was doing her hair, which was so thick and long it took a great deal of time to arrange.

"Isn't hot water heavenly when you haven't seen it in a tub for a week and a half?" said Winona, emerging in a borrowed kimono, which she presently pa.s.sed on to Louise.