room with the heap of
greenbacks on the table before them, Rebecca was attacked by another
conscientious scruple.

"I don't hardly know as we're doin' right, Phoebe," she said, shaking
her head dubiously. "When we get back to 1892 we'd ought to find some
money in the bank already. Ef we hev this with us, too, seems to me
we'll hev more'n we're entitled to. Ain't it a good deal like cheatin'
the bank?"

"Mercy, no!" Phoebe exclaimed, pettishly. "You're forever raisin' some
trouble like that! Ain't this our money?"

"Yes--but----"

"Well, then, what's the use o' talkin' 'bout it? Just wait till we can
mention your trouble to Mr. Droop. He'll have a good answer for you."

"But s'posin' he can't answer it?" Rebecca insisted.

"Well, if he can't we can give back the difference to the bank."

So saying, Phoebe took her share of the bills and quickly left the
room.

"I've got lots of things to do before night," she remarked.

At promptly half-past nine all the lights in the house were
extinguished, and the two sisters sat together in the dark parlor
awaiting Copernicus. It was Rebecca who had insisted on putting out the
lights.

"Ef folks was to see lights here so late in the night," she said,
"they'd suspicion somethin' an' they might even call in."

Phoebe admitted the justness of this reasoning, and they had both
directed every endeavor to completing all their arrangements before
their accustomed bed-time.

It was not long after this that a stealthy step was heard on the gravel
path and Phoebe hurried to the door. Copernicus came in with a low
word of greeting and followed the ghostly shadow of his hostess into the
parlor.

The three stood together in the dark and conversed in an undertone,
like so many conspirators surrounded by spies.

"Hev ye got everythin' ready?" Droop asked.

"Yes," said Phoebe. "The's only two little trunks for you. Did you
bring the wheelbarrow?"

"Yep--I left it outside the gate. 'Twould hev made a lot of noise on the
gravel inside."

"That's right," said Phoebe. "I guess you'll not have any trouble to
carry both o' those trunks at once. We haven't packed only a few things,
'cause I expect we'll find all our old duds ready for us in 1892, won't
we?"

"Why, 'f course," said Droop.

"But how 'bout linen--sheets an' table-cloths an' all?" said Rebecca.
"We'll need some o' them on the trip, won't we?"

"I've got a hull slew o' them things in the Panchronicon," said
Copernic