"
The girl looked down at her strong but shapely shoes (she was a bit
vain of her neat foot), and thought that she would not be so unladylike
as to 'bet her boots' on anything. But, as Will's observation was
entirely impersonal, and intended as a pledge that he would follow her
instructions, she made no comment. Moreover, she had now brought about
the state of affairs which she had mischievously designed. Each of
the party except Joe supposed that he or she had a secret with Ellen
which the others knew nothing about; to each she had whispered her
conjecture regarding Joe's purpose, and planned that they, the two of
them, should please him by joining in it, without intimating their
intention to him or any one. What a general astonishment and amusement
there would be when it came out that all had known what each had been
enjoying as a secret!
Meantime they had been active, and each had gathered a fair quantity of
pretty flowers--arbutus, violets, anemones, and cherry blooms; to which
Teresa and Elsie insisted upon adding buttercups and even dandelions.
Now the sun was going down, and they gaily turned their steps toward
home.
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