CHAPTER XI
BILLIE WINS OUT
"But whom shall we get for a chaperone?" asked Laura Jordon, after theyhad thoroughly discussed these new and startling plans for a vacation."We don't want to get any one who is too old and grouchy, and yet thefolks probably wouldn't let us go unless we did."
Billie and Violet laughed, for they realized the truth of what she said.
"We do seem to be 'up against it,' as Ted says." Laura was always usingher brother for an excuse for her own slang. "I can't think of a singleperson jolly enough to please us and dull enough to please the folks."
"How about one of our mothers?" Violet suggested.
"I know my mother wouldn't do it," said Billie. "The last time Iasked her to chaperone us girls she said she would as soon chaperonea trio of eels."
"And when I asked mother," Laura added, "she said she would have nervousprostration in a week."
"My, we must have a terrible reputation," sighed Violet. "I never knewwe were as bad as all that."
"Oh, I have an idea!" cried Laura suddenly, clapping her hands.
"Well, don't let it bite you," murmured Billie.
"Wait till you hear and you won't be so sarcastic," retorted Laura. "I'msure I have just the very person that we want."
"Oh, who?" cried Violet.
"Maria Gilligan, our housekeeper," Laura announced, and then sat backwith an air that said just as plainly as words: "There! how's that for aninspiration?"
"Maria Gilligan, your housekeeper?" Billie repeated.
"I think it's a rather good idea, Laura," said Violet. "Isn't Mrs.Gilligan the one who is always playing jokes on her husband?"
"Yes, she's the funniest thing you ever saw," Laura answered, her eyesbeginning to twinkle at the memory of some of Mrs. Gilligan'sescapades. "Why, one April Fool's Day she set the clock back an hourand Mr. Gilligan got up grumbling that it was awfully dark for sixo'clock. Then when he was all ready and was starting out to work shetold him about it."
"What did he do?" asked Violet, interested.
"I know what I'd have done if I'd been in his place," sniffed Billie."I'd have tied her in a chair and gagged her and left her there all day."
"Billie! how barbaric!" cried Violet. "What would you have donethat for?"
"Just so she could have thought over her sins," said Billie with achuckle. "I never did believe in practical jokes."
"And then another time," said Laura, her eyes twinkling, "she wasupstairs straightening up the store-room when she pretended to have atumble. You know she weighs about two hundred pounds--"
"At a rough guess, I should say three hundred," murmured Billie, forBillie was in a very contrary mood that day.
"And she came down with a thump that shook the chandeliers," Laura wenton, ignoring the interruption, "and when Mr. Gilligan--you know he weighsonly a hundred and fifty and is about half her size--"
"Now I _know_ she weighs three hundred," interposed Billie again. "It'sjust a matter of arithmetic."
"There she was with her head in her hands," went on Laura, too muchamused by her story to notice the interruption, "sobbing as if her heartwould break. And when he got down on his knees to comfort her, she justlooked at him with a grin and said: 'April Fool.'"
"Well, I should say he was," said Billie, with another sniff. "And notonly an April Fool, either. She would try a trick like that just aboutonce with me."
"Well, anyway," Laura concluded, "I think she would be just the oneto take on our trip with us. She's jolly and full of fun and yetshe's old enough and fat enough to please our fathers and mothers.What do you say?"
"Do you suppose she's fat enough to scare away the ghosts?" asked Billie,with a chuckle.
"My, but I'd be sorry for any mistaken ghost that tried to have a set-towith her," laughed Laura. "She'd just laugh at them and say: 'Shoo,ghost, don't bodder me.'"
"All right, let's ask her," decided Billie. "Now that we have made upour minds to change Cherry Corners into a summer resort, I can't wait toget started."
"If only the folks will be willing," said Violet, looking worried."Mother is funny about letting me go anywhere away from homewithout her."
"I guess all our parents are," said Billie, then added, with a suddeninspiration: "I tell you what! Let's all go together and ask them. Threeare always stronger than one."
"You do have a good idea once in awhile, Billie!" exclaimed Laura,jumping out of the swing and holding out a hand to each of them. "Comeon, we can't afford to waste any time."
"Where shall we go first?" asked Violet.
"To Laura's," Billie decided. "If we can get her mother and father toconsent and then can get Mrs. Gilligan to go with us as chaperone, we'llhave a pretty good argument to give our folks. Eh, what?"
Gaily the girls set off to win Laura's parents over to their side, andthey were lucky enough to find Mrs. Jordon at home. Also Teddy was there,sitting beside her on the veranda. At sight of Billie the boy jumped tohis feet and came running down to her.
"Hello," he cried. "I was just coming over your way, to see if Chetdidn't want to fight out our singles tournament. He's two sets ahead ofme now, and I'm thirsting for r-revenge."
"I think he'll give it to you all right," laughed Billie, as Violet andLaura ran up the steps in front of them. "I've never seen the time yetwhen Chet refused a tennis game."
"All right, I'm off then," he cried, and was starting away when shecalled him back.
"Don't you want to know about my--inheritance?" she asked him, with ademure little glance.
"Your what?" he cried, then suddenly he grasped her two hands and swungthem joyfully back and forth. "Do you mean to say," he cried, "that youraunt really left you something? What is it, Billie? Go on, tell me."
"If you want to hear all about it just stay around for a little while,"she laughed, leading him toward the group at the other end of the porch,two members of which were already in animated conversation.
"May we get in on this?" she called, interrupting an eloquent appeal onLaura's part.
"Oh, yes, come here, do," cried Laura, clutching at her dress anddragging her into the circle. "Mother's beginning to shake her head, andyou mustn't let her, Billie. She'll do anything for you."
Mrs. Jordon laughed and made room for Billie on the divan beside her.
"Now perhaps you'll tell me," she said, "what this crazy daughter of mineis talking about. So far I've got a sort of confused jumble of a hauntedhouse and vacations and Mrs. Gilligan. I must confess I don't see how thethree can possibly be connected."
Then Billie told all over again the story of her strange inheritance,while Mrs. Jordon and Teddy listened with interest and Violet and Lauranow and then put in a word to plead their cause.
As for Teddy, he was so busy watching Billie's flushed, excited andaltogether charming face that he more than once lost the trend of theconversation.
"I don't wonder Laura said mother couldn't refuse her anything," hethought. "I don't see how any one could refuse her when she talks andlooks that way. Billie's a wonder, that's all."
And in this case Billie did indeed prove herself to be a wonder. Withinhalf an hour she had not only won Mrs. Jordon over to their side, buthad persuaded her to let the girls borrow Mrs. Gilligan for the time oftheir vacation.
"Of course," Mrs. Jordon warned them, as the girls were hugging eachother triumphantly, "we aren't at all sure that Mrs. Gilligan will wantto undertake such an expedition. I couldn't blame her very much if shedidn't," she added, with a rueful little smile, "knowing you girls asshe does."
"I'll get her!" cried Laura, and promptly put her words into action.
She appeared the next minute, dragging a very much astonished housekeeperafter her, and proudly presented her prize to her mother.
"She said she was busy, Mother, and couldn't stop," Laura said, adding,with a bright smile: "But I told her it was something awfully importantyou wanted to say to her."
"Sure and I suppose the young girl is up to some of her tricks,"
saidMrs. Gilligan, beaming fondly upon her captor, "but I came with her,thinking it possible you might really have something to say to me,Mrs. Jordon."
"Yes, I have, Mrs. Gilligan. Sit down, won't you please? It may takesome time to persuade you--"
And then and there began another campaign. However, with Mrs. Jordon as apowerful ally the girls had little trouble in overcoming Mrs. Gilligan'sobjections, and in the end came off with colors flying.
"Now to see Billie's mother!" cried Laura.
The girls hugged Mrs. Jordon, waved to their new chaperone, and rangayly down the steps. Teddy, with a whispered word to his mother,followed them.
"Say, wait for a fellow, can't you?" he cried, and they turned towait for him.
"Come on, Vi," cried Laura, catching hold of Violet's arm andhurrying forward. "Ted and Billie will get there some time. We can'twait for them."
"How do you like our new plans?" asked Billie, looking up at him withsparkling eyes.
"I think you ought to have all sorts of fun," he told her, addingwith a funny little smile: "But I can't quite make out yet where wefellows come in."
"Oh, didn't I tell you?" she asked, surprised. "Why, you are going withus!"