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Grace Ford, tall, willowly, and exceedingly pretty, was blessed with well-to-do parents. Mr. Ford being a lawyer of note, who handled many big cases. Mollie Billette, was just the opposite type from Grace. Mollie was almost always in action, Grace in repose. Mollie was dark, Grace fair. Mollie was quick-tempered Grace very slow to arouse.
The four came to a halt beneath a great horsechestnut tree, that gave welcome relief from the sun, which, though it was only May, still had much of the advance hint of summer in it. There was a carriage block near the curb, and Grace "draped herself artistically about it," as Mollie Billette expressed it.
It can't be more than a few hundred feet away, even though we can't see it for the bushes. Lead on, Mollie Billette, I wouldst hie me hence." But when Mollie laughingly obeyed and started into the woods, Amy held back. "What's the matter?" Grace asked, turning to her curiously. "I I was just thinking," stammered Amy, ashamed of her own weakness, "about last night."
In the mantle of newly-fallen snow it would seem to be an easy, matter to pick out the child's footprints and at least trace in which direction he went. Will was the first to locate them, and a joyful whoop told of his success. "Here they are!" he called. "He came out of this side door, and headed for the river " "The river!" screamed Mrs. Billette, clutching at Mollie's arm. "Hush, Mother!
Billette's rather disjointed story the girls gathered that not only the valuable tea service was missing, but also a number of smaller articles, such as knives and forks. Then there was a valuable jet necklace which Mrs. Billette had locked up with the silver for safe keeping. The girls were stunned by this last calamity. They could think of one solution and one only, and that was the gypsies.
You were naughty children very naughty!" "Oo dot any tandy?" demanded Dodo, fixing her big eyes on Grace. "Candy! Good land sakes, no! Candy? The idea!" "We 'ikes tandy," added Paul. Then out came Mrs. Billette, startled at the sight of the dripping figures. "Oh, did you fall in?" she asked, with a tragic gesture. "No, we fell out," said her daughter, laughing.
"As Frank remarked unflatteringly this morning, 'You are far from being a dead one go and reform." "Was he speaking of me?" demanded Mollie Billette in deadly quiet, but Roy raised a placating hand. "No, no, of course not," he said hurriedly. "He was speaking of me, poor worm that I am. But, I say," he added, looking around at the busily flying needles, "what's the idea of the knitting.
"The boys will be here in five minutes!" cried Mollie Billette, bursting in upon her friend, dark hair flying and eyes alight. "You'd better get on your hat." "What boys and why the hat?" returned Grace Ford who, pretty and graceful, as always, was provokingly calm. "I'll answer any and everything if you will only get ready. Oh, have you got to go upstairs?
And now I don't suppose I will get there for hours." "Oh yes, you will," said Mrs. Billette, with the delicious, almost imperceptible, accent she had. "The ink has not yet dried, and luckily there is not much about the room. Run along, dear. I fully realize," she added, with the smile that made Mollie adore her, "that this, with you, is a very important occasion."
Grace had one failing, if such it can be called. She was exceedingly fond of chocolates and other sweets, and was never without some confection in her possession. And then there was Billy as Mollie Billette was nicknamed. Mollie was the daughter of a well-to-do widow, Mrs. Pauline Billette, whose French ancestry you could guess by her name and by her appearance and manner.
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