Between them they seemed to hide some secret.
"You tell her, Bess," suggested Belle.
"You, you, dear!"
"Is there anything?" asked Cora, smiling at her chums.
"Oh, dear, it's the best thing in the world--if you'll consent to
it!" burst out Bess. "Listen! Papa and mamma want you to come with
us, Cora--to the West Indies. They'd love to have you and your
mother."
"We couldn't leave Jack!" said Cora, softly.
"Bring him along!" invited Belle. "It would be just the thing for
him--wouldn't it, Dr. Blake?"
"The West Indies? Yes, I should say there couldn't be a better
place."
"Oh!" gasped Cora.
"Do say yes, Mrs. Kimball!" pleaded Belle.
"What about poor little Inez?" questioned Cora. "Did you tell your
father, Bess?"
"Yes, and he seems to think there may be something in it. He is
going to make inquiries. Oh, but let's settle this first. Will you
come with us, Mrs. Kimball--Cora? And bring Jack! Oh, it would be
just perfect to have you with us."
"Could we go, Mother?" Cora pleaded.
"Why, it is all so sudden--and yet there is no good reason why we
shouldn't."
"Good!" cried Walter. "I'm coming, too! I never could leave old
Jack! Ho, for the West Indies!"
CHAPTER VIII
THE DREAM OF INEZ
"Oh, Walter, are you really going?"
"Do you mean it?"
"Are you joking?"
Thus Belle, Bess and Cora questioned Jack's chum, who stood in the
center of the library, one hand thrust between two buttons of his
coat, and the other raised above his head like some political orator
of the old school.
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