"It is just as Mrs. Beasley says. If her
aunt took Inez's basket and money away, she is out of business. She's
lost her capital. I only hope she is not hungry, poor thing."
"Dear, dear!" joined in Bess. "If she only knew how to come to us! She
must know we'd help her."
"She knows where we are staying," Nan said. "Don't you remember I showed
her Walter's card?"
"Then why hasn't she been to see us?" cried Bess.
"I guess there are several reasons for that," said sensible Nan.
"Well! I'd like to know what they are," cried her chum. "Surely, she
could find her way."
"Oh, yes. Perhaps she didn't want to come. Perhaps she is too proud to
beg of us--just beg _money_, I mean. She is an independent little thing."
"Oh, I know that," admitted Bess.
"But more than likely," Nan pursued, "her reason for not trying to see us
was that she was afraid she would not be admitted to the house."
"My gracious!" exclaimed Walter. "I never thought of that."
"Just consider what would happen to a ragged and dirty little child who
mounted your steps--even suppose she got that far," Nan said.
"What would happen to her?" demanded the wondering Bess, while Walter
looked thoughtful.
"If she got into the street at all (there is always a policeman on fixed
post at the corner) one of the men at the house, the butler or the
footman, would drive her away.
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