“Well, everything has to have a beginning,” said Laura, lightly adding, as unconcernedly as she could:  “I told Teddy about it last night.”

“You did!” cried Billie, turning upon her while the color flooded her face.  “Laura, what did you do that for?”

“You don’t mind, do you?” queried Laura, wide-eyed.  “I’m sure I never thought of your not wanting Teddy to know.”

“Oh, I suppose it doesn’t make any difference,” sighed Billie, adding plaintively:  “Only I don’t like everybody to know how crazy I am.”

“Teddy doesn’t think you’re crazy,” said Laura, with a chuckle, regarding Billie out of the corner of her eye.  “In fact, if I should tell you what he does think of you—­”

“Oh, don’t be foolish,” almost snapped Billie, and again Laura chuckled inwardly.

“Well, you needn’t be so cross,” she said.  “I can’t help what Teddy does or thinks.  Here he comes now,” she added, glancing up the street.

“Oh, and I’m a perfect fright!” cried Billie, her hands flying to her hair—­hair, by the way, which was arranged in the very best manner to set off Billie’s sparkling prettiness.  “Laura,” she turned accusing eyes upon her chum, “tell the truth.  Did you know he was coming?”

“No,” said Laura honestly, adding with a little chuckle:  “But I sort of had an idea that he might happen along.”

If ever a boy looked handsome, it was Teddy Jordon as he swung up the street to Billie’s house.  He was very tall, looking more like a lad of eighteen than the fifteen years he was.  His fair hair waved back from a broad forehead, and his merry gray eyes sparkled with the joy of living.

“Hello!” he greeted the girls, as he took the porch steps two at a time and seated himself on the railing.  “Laura has been telling me of your escapade, Billie Bradley, and I’ve come to find out what you mean by going about busting busts—­that isn’t good English, is it?”

“It doesn’t sound just right,” agreed Billie, dimpling adorably.  “You speak as if I were bust—­pardon me, breaking busts for a living.  And it wasn’t a bust, but a whole statue.  No part way things for me!”

“There’s Nellie Bane, I must speak to her,” cried Laura, and before either of the others realized what she was up to, she was gone, leaving them alone.

Quite naturally Teddy came over and took the seat his sister had vacated.

“I say, Billie,” he said, his handsome eyes regarding her frankly, “you know, I’m really awfully sorry about that business.  It makes me mad that you should be troubled with it.  You and I have always been pretty good friends, haven’t we?” he finished unexpectedly.

Surprised, Billie answered warmly:  “The very best of friends, Teddy.  We ought to be,” she added with a little laugh.  “We’ve known each other pretty nearly forever.”

“Then let me help,” begged Teddy earnestly.  “You know my allowance is away more than I need—­”