rls felt free to slip down to the
bungalow to hear what Mr. Robinson had to tell them.

Eager as they were to learn what had been done for the Gays, they were
not to go directly to the bungalow for half way across the lawn Mrs.
Hildreth called to them.

"Miss Clinton sent me word to-day, Rosemary," she said, "that she'd
like very much to see you; the letter-man told me. I thought maybe
you'd go down there this evening."

"Don't go," whispered Sarah. "We want to see Mr. Robinson."

Rosemary stopped uncertainly. It was still light and Mrs. Willis would
not object if they were back before dark.

"We were going to see the boys," said Rosemary. "There was something I
wanted to ask them--"

"Oh, you can see them when you come back," Mrs. Hildreth answered.
"I'd go see Miss Clinton if I were you; she gets lonely and it isn't
very nice to disappoint an old lady. She hasn't so many interests as
you have."

Rosemary looked at the speaker a trifle resentfully. Mrs. Hildreth,
like many busy people, was an adept at pointing out duties for other
folk.

"Shall we go, Mother?" she asked doubtfully.

Now Mrs. Willis knew nothing of Mr. Robinson's all important visit to
the Gay farm and she saw no special reason for a visit to the bungalow.

"Why I don't see why not, darling," she answered. "If you are not too
tired. Don't stay long, because you want to be home before dark. As
Mrs. Hildreth says, the old lady is probably lonely."

Rosemary went on and Sarah began to scold.

"I don't see why you said you'd go," she complained. "We never plan to
go anywhere that someone doesn't spoil it. Why didn't you say you'd go
when you got ready and not before?"

"Because that would have been disrespectful and rude and you know it,"
retorted Rosemary tartly. "You and Shirley go on and see Mr. Robinson
and I'll see Miss Clinton. I don't mind going alone."

"I'll go, too," said Shirley.

"I'm not going to hear what he has to say and let you wait," announced
Sarah gruffly. "What do you suppose Miss Clinton wants?"

"Company, probably," said Rosemary. "We'll tell her we can't stay
long, because Mother doesn't like us out after dark; we can stop at the
bungalow on the way back and the boys will walk back with us."

They found Miss Clinton, sitting in her chair, in the center of the
doorway. Then they were glad they had come, for it was easy to picture
her sitting like that a whole dreary evening, watching and waiting.