The girls jumped up and surrounded them.
"Where on earth have you been? What on earth have you been doing? Where
in the name of common sense did you get that haughty black person who
brought us news of you about six?" everybody wanted to know, while
Adelaide and Nataly held brief reunions with their brothers, and six
girls at once pressed refreshments on Lonny and Tom and Billy.
"We've sold most of your arts-and-crafts things," announced Winona.
"And every stitch of embroidery," added Louise.
"And we've been to a band concert and met a fairy godmother!" chanted
Winona in her turn.
"And we have heaps and _heaps_ of money!" finished Louise jubilantly.