“ Mrs. Topham, I am not a peddler,” Nancy said cuttingly, as the color mounted to her cheeks. With difficulty she kept her temper in check. “Perhaps you didn’t understand my name. I am Nancy Drew.”
“Oh.” A slight change came over Mrs. Topham’s face, for she was fully aware that Carson Drew and his daughter were cordially welcomed in River Heights homes which merely tolerated the Tophams or, in a few cases, barred them. “I didn’t catch the name, Miss Drew. What is it you are selling?”
“Tickets for the charity dance.”
“Well, I hardly know what to say,” Mrs. Topham hedged.
It was apparent that she was afraid to offend Nancy, and yet she was unwilling to part with the money. Although the Tophams were well-to-do, it was common knowledge that Mrs. Topham was decidedly stingy where other persons were concerned.
“How much are the tickets?”
“Two dollars each.”
“Why, that’s positively exorbitant!” Mrs. Topham protested.
“But we are selling the tickets for charity,” Nancy explained. “I assure you the cause is an excellent one.”
Before Mrs. Topham could reply, the front door opened and Isabel and Ada entered the house. Unaware of the visitor, they paused in the hall and carried on a disgruntled conversation. Evidently, they had been making social calls and were angry because some woman had refused to see them.
“Her maid said she wasn’t at home, but I know she was,” Nancy heard Ada complain.