"I'd have been glad to help," said Mrs. Black stiffly; "but what with
it being my day to go over to Grenoble, and my boarders t' cook for
and all--"

"Oh, we didn't expect you," said Abby Daggett tranquilly. "There was
enough of us to do everything."

She beamed warmly upon Mrs. Black.

"Us ladies was saying we'd all better give you a rising vote of
thanks for bringing that sweet Miss Orr to the fair. Why, 'twas a
real success after all; we took in two hundred and forty-seven
dollars and twenty-nine cents. Ain't that splendid?"

Mrs. Black nodded. She felt suddenly proud of her share in this
success.

"I guess she wouldn't have come to the fair if I hadn't told her
about it," she admitted. "She only come to my house yesterd'y
morning."

"In an auto?" inquired Abby Daggett eagerly.

"Yes," nodded Mrs. Black. "I told her I could bring her over in the
wagon just as well as not; but she said she had the man all engaged.
I told her we was going to have a fair, and she said right off she
wanted to come."

Abby Daggett laid her warm plump hand on Mrs. Black's arm.