“Hardly that, but I’ll have enough to last me for a long time.” Both girls, blissfully ignorant of how much it cost to live, considered Doris’s little hoard a miniature fortune. “When I have so much, it seems a shame not to make a small loan to Iris and Azalea,” Doris said thoughtfully. “They promised you’d get it all back,” Kitty encouraged. “In the end you’ll come into the Trent inheritance.” “There’s only one drawback.” “What’s that?” “Cousin Ronald is to handle the money.” Doris sighed as one who was burdened with great business responsibilities. “Oh, dear, I wish I liked him better. If I could entirely trust him, I’d offer the money in a minute!” CHAPTER XVI A PLEASANT ADVENTURE The next morning when Doris and Kitty came downstairs for breakfast, they were relieved to see that the Misses Gates were there ahead of them. However, they noticed at once that for the first time since their arrival at the mansion, the two ladies were dressed differently. “That means they’ve been quarrelling,” Doris told herself. Iris and Azalea spoke pleasantly to the girls but their faces were wan and strained. They avoided speaking to each other and scarcely glanced at one another. Kitty and Doris, distressed at the situation, were very glad that they had accepted Dave’s invitation to go for a ride in his plane. It would be a relief to get away from the mansion. The place was beginning to get on their nerves. Azalea and Iris ate very little, making the girls feel somewhat guilty concerning their own hearty appetites. All mention of the ruby ring was carefully avoided, but the subject was uppermost in the minds of the four. Conversation languished and the Misses Gates obviously were relieved when breakfast was finished. During the night Doris had tried to make up her mind what was the best thing to do in regard to the loan which the Misses Gates had requested, but she had been unable to reach a decision. Now, as she saw how very unhappy the two ladies were and how strained was the relationship between them, she wished that she might do something to help the situation before she and Kitty left on their outing. “I’ll lend them the money,” she thought. “Perhaps the news will cheer them a bit.” Accordingly, as they were leaving the dining room, she turned to Azalea and Iris. “Yesterday when Kitty and I were in Rumson, I telephoned my bank,” she told them, “and I found that I have more money in my account than I had anticipated. So I’ve been thinking it over and have decided to let you have some of it.” “Oh!” Azalea exclaimed, her face lighting up. “How very kind of you.” “You’re sure you can spare the money?” Iris asked. “The bookkeeper said that I had six thousand dollars,” Doris admitted, “so I can let you have only five hundred. If that will be of any help—” “Indeed it will,” Azalea declared. “I cannot tell you how grateful we are.”