Mrs. Hughie Wilson was sweeping her garden path, and called out to
them that the church concert had netted 327 dollars; wasn't that
pretty good?

A few steps farther on they met Alice Clark, who kept them ten
minutes in eager, unimportant conversation. Her parting remark sent
the Monroe girls happily on their way.

"I hear Rodney Parker's home--don't pretend to be surprised, Martha
Monroe. A little bird was telling me that I'll have to go up North
Main Street for news of him after this!"

"Who do you s'pose told her we met Rod Parker?" Martie grinned as
they went on.

"People see everything! Oh, Martie," said Sally earnestly, "I do
hope you are going to marry; no, don't laugh! I don't mean Rod, of
course, I'm not such a fool. But I mean some one."

"You ought to marry first, Sally; you're the older," Martie said,
with averted eyes and a sort of delicious shame.

"Oh, I don't mind that, Martie, if only we begin!" Sally answered
fervently. "When I think of what the next ten years MEAN for us, it
just makes me sick! Either we'll marry and have our own homes and
children, or we'll be like Alice, and the Baxters, and Miss Fanny--"

"I'd just as soon have a good job like Miss Fanny," Martie said
hardily. "She gets sixty a month."