T.O. did not show the letter to Laura Ann. She put it in her pocket
again, and they walked home slowly, talking of Mrs. Camp's sad accident.
At the supper table it was voted that they all write a joint letter of
sympathy to her, and express, at the same time, their united and
separate thanks for her kindness to them in lending them her home.

Loraine wrote the letter, Laura Ann copied it, they all signed it. Into
cold pen-and-ink words they tried to diffuse warmth and gratitude and
sympathy, but the result was not very satisfying, as such results rarely
are. Still, it was all they could do. Billy and Laura Ann went off to
mail it.

"Do you begin to feel lonesome?" laughed Loraine softly, as she and T.O.
sat on the steps in the dark. "Thinking of being left all alone in the
Hive, I mean? The rest of us begin to feel lonesome, thinking of being
left out! We had a grist of good times all together, didn't we? Remember
the little 'treats' when you always brought home olives, and Billy sage
cheese? Laura Ann used to change about--sometimes eclairs, sometimes
sauerkraut! Always sardines for me. Oh, _do_ you remember the treat
with a capital 'T,' when we had ice cream and angel cake? And Billy
wanted to divide the hole so as not to waste anything--there, I don't
believe you've heard a word I said!"

She had not, for she was not there. Loraine put out her hand in the
darkness, but could not find her. She had slipped away unceremoniously.

She was down in the road, walking fast and hard. The battle was on
again.