“A hundred dollars,” her father repeated.  “Well, that’s a lot to pay, Beatrice, for just a few minutes’ reckless fun.  Of course I can pay it, but that will mean putting off some affairs of more pressing importance—­”

But Billie could stand it no longer, and with a little cry she flew to him and pressed her soft cheek against his.

“Daddy, I’m a brute to worry you like this!” she cried, penitently.  “Please don’t worry any more, dear.  I’ll find some way to replace the old thing myself.”

Her father patted her cheek, but the worried frown still remained on his face.  Billie started to leave the room but turned before she had reached the door.

“Dad,” she said hesitatingly, and he turned to her with a smile.  “About Uncle Bill,” she said.  “He has always given me anything I wanted.  Do you suppose he would help?”

“He is out of the country—­gone on a business trip that has taken him on an ocean voyage,” said her father.  “He will be gone for an indefinite period.  I thought you knew, Billie.  Though, as he just left, I suppose it is not strange you had not heard us speak of it.”  And with that Mr. Bradley relapsed immediately into his brown study.

Billie opened the door and closed it softly behind her.

“My last hope!” she sighed plaintively.  “Now what shall I do?”

CHAPTER V

WORSE AND WORSE

Two weeks passed, and still Billie Bradley had found no solution to her problem.  The broken statue seemed as far from being paid for as ever, and, as far as she was concerned, the summer vacation was completely spoiled.

In this frame of mind she crushed a soft straw hat down over her brown hair one day and set out to find her chums, feeling the need of their sympathy.  And how was she to know, poor Billie, that the news the girls would have to tell her would serve only to make her mood the blacker?

As she neared the Farrington home, Violet herself came rushing out to meet her, looking unusually and feverishly excited.

“Oh, Billie, what do you think?” she cried, encircling Billie with her arm and fairly dragging her up on the porch.  “I have the most wonderful news to tell you!”

“What?” gasped Billie, for the unexpected onslaught had literally taken her breath away.  “Goodness! you might as well kill me as scare me to death.”

“Oh, but, Billie, you won’t mind when I tell you,” cried Violet, regarding her friend with dancing eyes.  “The folks have decided to send me to Three Towers Hall!” Three Towers was a boarding school some distance from North Bend.  “Laura is going too,” Violet continued breathlessly.  “And of course you will—­” But something in Billie’s face stopped her and she drew in her breath sharply.

“Oh, Billie,” she cried, her face falling, “you’re never going to tell me you can’t go!”

“I guess that’s just what I am going to tell you,” said Billie, her fists clasped so tightly that the knuckles showed white.  “I might have stood some chance if it hadn’t been for that old statue.  Now I can’t get enough money to pay for that—­much less go to Three Towers.”