ems he can dance), and
seeing him look puzzled she asked politely if anything were wrong. He
said he didn't know, and showed her the telegram. She could make no more
of it than he could. Then Mr. Caspian appeared with a telegram in his
hand. "Have you a wire from Mrs. Shuster?" he wanted to know. Peter
didn't deny the soft impeachment. "I'm just wondering," blundered Ed,
"if by any chance the lady was absent-minded and mixed the messages?
Some one talking to her while she wrote, perhaps. Will you let me have a
look at yours?"

Peter let him have a look; in fact, they exchanged; and Peter read in
the one apparently intended for Ed: "Please come home day after
to-morrow. Find I need you. L. Shuster."

"I think this _is_ mine," said Ed.

"And probably this is intended for me," said Peter. "Was it the
Grayles-Grice you thought of trying your hand on?"

"I told Mrs. Shuster I could drive it for Miss Moore, rather than break
up the party if she needed you. She was to let us know--when her plans
were settled," explained Ed. And Patsey says he stammered.

"After that affair of the Wilmot this afternoon I shouldn't like to
advise Miss Moore to exchange chauffeurs, even for one day," said Peter.
"Mrs. Shuster's very good-natured. I expect she'll wait. If not, she can
fill my place with some one else, permanently."

Pat was amused, though I'm not sure she understood the little play of
cross-purposes as well as I understand it. And she doesn't seem to
attach any importance to that part of the telegram which is the most
exciting, to _my_ idea. _Why_ would it be inconvenient for our fair
Lily to have her secretary return to-morrow? Something is _up_ at
Kidd's Pines! I vaguely suspected as much when she let us come away
without her. When Jack wakes I shall ask him what he thinks. Love.

Your affectionate MOLLY.

P. S. Jack thinks something so wild and woolly that I _daren't_ tell you
what it is till I know, for fear he's wrong. Much less will I tell Pat.
And we can't know for two or three days unless we abbreviate the trip
which all of us would hate to do.

VII

EDWARD CASPIAN TO MRS. L. SHUSTER

_Easthampton,_
_Wednesday morning._

MY DEAR FRIEND:

I know you mean well, and I don't like to scold, but really, _really_ I
have a big bone to pick with you! I didn't ask