human
Well, said Selma,
gpt
Oh, said Betty.
human
Mr. Murchison asked Father to meet his sister, Countess Coletti, and her daughter. They came over on the _Statendam_. That was why I couldn't get home till today. First the ship was to arrive on--Thursday, I think. Then the New York _Times_ said Friday and the next day it was Saturday. It really came in on Sunday; so, of course, we had to wait till we could meet them.
gpt
Did you meet them, too?
human
Yes, I went with Father to the boat. He thought it would be better, since Miss Coletti was coming, too.
gpt
What is the girl called, Betty?
human
Lucia.
gpt
I didn't mean that. Hasn't she any title, too?
human
I don't know what they call her over in Italy, or at the school in Switzerland that she has been attending. But her mother say that she is to be Lucia Coletti, or Miss Coletti at school. She wants to come to Lyon High; but I don't suppose they will hurry about it.
gpt
Are they really going to send her to a _public_ school?
human
That shows what you really think of the public school, Mathilde Finn,
gpt
Suppose I _do_,
human
Well, said Dotty,
gpt
All right, if you think that, Dotty Bradshaw, think away!
human
I think we must all be nice to Lucia, for she will not know what to do, she says, and besides, she will be terribly homesick. When I first saw her she was both seasick, or just getting over it, and homesick, too. But her mother says that Lucia is going to have a taste of American democracy.
gpt
She will probably get all she wants of it here, sarcastically said Mathilde.
human
But Betty Lee is right--we must all be friendly.
gpt
Kathryn whispered,
human
Tut-tut!
gpt
My mother was at school with Miss Murchison, I think, Mathilde continued.
human
She will probably call upon the countess.
gpt
And you ought to go with her, Mathilde,
human
I'm suffering from an aching void, girls, declared Dotty.
gpt
It's past lunch time for me!
human
Come on home with me, Betty,
gpt
No, both you come with me, said Carolyn.
human
I have an arrangement with Cook for a special lunch of something I adore.
gpt
Thank you, girls; I must get back to Mother, besides having a lot of things to see to. Just think, I haven't seen my mother all summer, except just a little while this morning. I have to hear all about how my grandmother is, and Dick and Doris have actually _grown_ this summer. I can _see_ it, to say nothing of Amy Lou, who is peachier than ever.
human
You do love your family, don't you, Betty Lee?
gpt
I should think so!
human
Well, come along, Kathryn. Take pity on me and let's have a good old visit together. Peggy, can't you come, too?
gpt
Maybe I'll call you up tonight, Betty,
human
Do it, Gypsy,
gpt
Gypsy