"I must ask her not to do that," she announced quietly, and disappeared.
"And I spoke to her about joining in the conversation at dinner," she said, returning. "She took it very nicely."
Belle's youthful spirits were too high to succumb to one check, however. Five minutes later she burst forth again:
"Ring, ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling, on your telephone—And ring me up tonight—"
"Soft pedal, Belle!" Jerry called.
Belle laughed.
"Sure!" she called back. "I forgot."
Presently the bright blot of light that fell from the pantry window on the little willow trees vanished silently, and they could hear Belle's voice in the kitchen.
"Good-natured," said Molly.
"Strong," Mrs. Porter said.
"And pretty as a peach!" said Peter Porter.
"Oh, she'll do!" Jerry Tressady said contentedly.
She was g
