`` If it were only a mild drizzle we might go around and see the Patterson girls , '' sighed Carol . `` But there is no venturing out in such a downpour . Cyrilla , you are supposed to be the brainiest one of us . Prove your claim to such pre-eminence by thinking of some brand-new amusement , especially suited to rainy afternoons . That will be putting your grey matter to better use than squandering it on Greek verbs out of study limits . '' `` If only I 'd got a letter from home today , '' said Mary , who seemed determined to persist in gloom . `` I would n't mind the weather . Letters are such cheery things : -- especially the letters my sister writes . They 're so full of fun and nice little news . The reading of one cheers me up for the day . Cyrilla Blair , what is the matter ? You nearly frightened me to death ! '' Cyrilla had bounded from her bed to the centre of the floor , waving her Greek grammar wildly in the air . `` Girls , I have an inspiration ! '' she exclaimed . `` Good ! Let 's hear it , '' said Carol . `` Let 's write letters -- rainy-day letters -- to everyone in the house , '' said Cyrilla . `` You may depend all the rest of the folks under Mrs. Plunkett 's hospitable roof are feeling more or less blue and lonely too , as well as ourselves . Let 's write them the jolliest , nicest letters we can compose and get Nora Jane to take them to their rooms .
There 's that pale little sewing girl , I do n't believe she ever gets letters from anybody , and Miss Marshall , I 'm sure she does n't , and poor old Mrs. Johnson , whose only son died last month , and the new music teacher who came yesterday , a letter of welcome to her -- and old Mr. Grant , yes , and Mrs. XXXXX too , thanking her for all her kindness to us .
Blair Carol Cyrilla Greek Jane Mary Patterson Plunkett afternoons centre