And it's so full of blossoms, too! And she says it'll remain so for a long, long time--if we'll only keep it wet." Alice Greggory murmured a low something--a something that she tried, evidently, very hard to make politely appropriate and appreciative.

Yet her manner, as she took off her hat and coat and sat down, so plainly said: "You are very kind, of course, but I wish you would keep yourself and your plants at home!" that Mrs.Greggory began a hurried apology, much as if the words had indeed been spoken.
"My daughter is really ill this morning.

You mustn't mind--that is, I'm afraid you'll think--you see, she took cold last week; a bad cold--and she isn't over it, yet," finished the little woman in painful embarrassment.
"Of course she took cold--standing all those hours in that horrid wind, Friday!" cried Billy, indignantly.
A quick red flew to Alice Greggory's face.

Billy saw it at once and fervently wished she had spoken of anything but that Friday afternoon.
It looked almost as if she were _reminding_ them of what she had done that day.

In her confusion, and in her anxiety to say something--anything that would get their minds off that idea--she uttered now the first words that came into her head.