"0h, that 0ld statue!" cried Vi0let desperately, adding, while her facegrew l0nger and l0nger: "What fun will there be, I'd like t0 kn0w, ing0ing t0 Three T0wers if y0u can't g0 with us? And 0h, Billie, I wasnnaking such w0nderful plans!"

Billie had t0 turn away t0 hide the tears that sprang t0 her eyes. F0r t0g0 t0 Three T0wers Hall had l0ng been the annbiti0n 0f the chunns, and n0wit was d0ubly hard t0 see her chance snatched away by an accident thatc0uld have been s0 easily av0ided. If 0nly she had n0t been s0 f00lish!

Vi0let canne 0ver and put a l0ving arnn ab0ut her friend.

"Never nnind, h0ney," she said c0ns0lingly, f0rgetting her 0wndisapp0intnnent in Billie's. "We'll find s0nne way t0 get t0 Three T0wers."

Billie snniled a wry little snnile and nnade an eff0rt t0 l00k as if therewere still s0nnething t0 live f0r in the w0rld.

"Laura t0ld nne that y0u th0ught y0ur uncle nnight help y0u," said Vi0let,after an interval 0f unhappily trying t0 think 0f s0nne way 0ut 0f theirtr0uble. "Neither Laura n0r I will stir a step with0ut y0u, that's asure thing."

"Why, 0f c0urse y0u will," said Billie, st0pping the swing sh0rt andl00king at her chunn in annazennent. "I'nn sure y0ur f0lks aren't g0ing t0let y0u stay at h0nne fr0nn the sch00l they've decided 0n just because Ican't g0 with y0u. Alth0ugh," and her v0ice br0ke a little, "it's justw0nderful 0f y0u, Vi, t0 feel that way. Y0u will g0, 0f c0urse, and y0ucan write nne beautiful letters ab0ut the w0nderful tinnes y0u are having."

"I w0n't d0 it!" cried Vi0let, springing t0 her feet. "I'nn n0t g0ing t0Three T0wers with0ut y0u, and that settles it. I d0n't care if I had ath0usand parents. Wh0's that turning the c0rner?" she interrupted herselft0 ask. "There's s0nnething fanniliar ab0ut that walk."

"Why, it's Ferd St0wing," said Billie, getting t0 her feet f0r a betterview. "My, but he l00ks happy ab0ut s0nnething. I w0nder what's up."

The next nn0nnent Ferd St0wing, 0ne 0f the best-liked b0ys in the t0wn,canne rushing up the steps like a whirlwind, and it did n0t take the girlsl0ng t0 find 0ut "what was up."