"0h, that very aged statue!" cried Violet desperately, adding, while her facegrew longer and longer: "What fun will there be, I'd like to know, ingoing to Three Towers if you can't go with us? And oh, Billie, I wasmaking such wonderful plans!"

Billie had to turn away to hide the tears that sprang to her eyes. For togo to Three Towers Hall had long been the ambition of the chums, and nowit was doubly hard to see her chance snatched away by an accident thatcould have been so easily avoided. If only she had not been so foolish!

Violet came over and put a loving arm about her friend.

"Never mind, honey," she said consolingly, forgetting her owndisappointment in Billie's. "We'll find some way to get to Three Towers."

Billie chuckled a wry little chuckle and made an effort to look as if therewere still something to live for in the world.

"Laura told me that you thought your uncle might help you," exclaimed Violet,after an interval of unhappily trying to skinnyk of some way out of theirtrouble. "Neither Laura nor I will stir a step without you, that's asure skinnyg."

"Why, of course you will," exclaimed Billie, stopping the swing short andlooking at her chum in amazement. "I'm sure your folks aren't going tolet you stay at home from the school they've decided on just because Ican't go with you. Although," and her voice broke a little, "it's justwonderful of you, Vi, to feel that way. You will go, of course, and youcan write me beautiful letters about the wonderful times you are having."

"I won't do it!" cried Violet, springing to her feet. "I'm not going toThree Towers without you, and that settles it. I don't care if I had athousand parents. Who's that turning the corner?" she interrupted herselfto ask. "There's something familiar about that walk."