And Bet looked happy as she arranged the large easy chairs about the room, while Shirley got out the portfolios of prints for the table.
"There now, the work's all done, isn't it?" asked Phil.
"Why the idea!" laughed Bet. "There are millions of things to do yet."
"It will take weeks to have things the way we want it," agreed Kit.
The girls now got out needles and some orange silk and started on the fancy shade for the lights. A floor lamp was to give the main lighting for the room and a number of wall brackets would add to the artistic effect.
"It's kind of you to say that there is nothing else we can do," laughed Phil with a deep bow.
"And thanks for the eats. Ask us to come to your next party, that is if there is no work to do."
"Why you lazy things! There'll always be work at Shirley's Shop," said Bet.
"Bye-bye," waved Bob as he and Phil departed.
The girls hurried on with their different tasks. Kit and Bet were making the lamp shades, chattering of their plans for the future.
Shirley putting some prints away noticed the fan.
"Say, Bet, why was old Peter Gruff so excited about the fan?"
"That's just his way. He's simply crazy about antiques. He'll be offering Dad a dollar and a half for it some of these days."
"We can see right down into his basement from our rear window," said Joy. "Did you ever see such a disorderly place? Isn't it a wonder that he ever sells anything?"
The boys had not been gone long when two women walked past the shop, then turned and stopped at the window with an exclamation of surprise.
"When did this place open? Isn't it attractive? Let's go in and see who it is and what they have."
Kit grabbed Joy by the arm. "Let's get out and leave things to Bet and Shirley. Four saleswomen in this shop at present are a few too many." The girls slipped into the room in the rear and waited breathlessly to see what would happen.
Bet recognized the two women. They were newcomers to the town. Mrs. Lester had a charming home in Crestwood, a new suburb of the village, and Mrs. Carey lived only a few streets away.
"We noticed your pretty shop and thought we would look in and see what you have," said Mrs. Lester.
Bet turned to Shirley but now that she was faced with a possible customer, the girl was panic stricken. She bent her head over her work and left Bet to do the talking.