efully to Loveday--the two girls were
discussing the great discovery as they went to bed. "I nearly howled
when I found nothing but dust."

"I wonder," answered Loveday, "if this is what that gentleman found--the
one, I mean, who came to see Father when I had measles. You know I've
always been hunting about for hiding-places."

"Yes, I know."

"I thought somehow it would be rather better than this, though. It
hardly seemed worth while his troubling to come and call; though, of
course, it's interesting. Mr. Fleming will be very thrilled."

"I'd have been a great deal more thrilled if there'd been anything worth
having inside. As I told you before, I expected spade-guineas. It's one
of the disappointments of my life!" declared Diana, getting into bed.

CHAPTER XV

Joy-riding

The post at Pendlemere Abbey was distributed after breakfast, and the
girls devoured their correspondence in the short interval before lessons
began. One morning in April the usual weekly letter with the Paris
postmark arrived addressed to "Miss Hewlitt", and, five minutes after
receiving it, Diana came tearing down the corridor in search of Loveday.
She looked the very incarnation of joy--her face was aglow, and her eyes
shining.

"Such news!" she gasped. "What d'you think? I'll give you three guesses.
Father and Mother are coming over to England for Easter. I haven't seen
them since last September, and I'm simply off my head. Isn't it ripping?
And that's not all, by any means. Come up to the ivy room, Loveday mine.
I want to tell you all about it without those kids hanging about
listening to every word one says. Come now!"

Linking her arm in Loveday's, Diana dragged her friend upstairs, away
from the eyes and ears of inquisitive juniors, who were veritable little
pitchers where their elders' affairs were concerned. It was only when
they were in the safety of their own sanctum that she fully unbosomed
herself.

"Somebody else is coming to England. It's my brother Giles. He's been
made London correspondent of the _Louisville Herald_. He wanted most
frightfully to join the army, but they wouldn't accept him because of
his eyes. He'll be just standing on his head with joy at getting to
Europe after all. Did I tell you he was in a newspaper office? He's
crossing next week, and he's to go and see Father and Mother in Paris
first, then come back with them to England, and have a holiday before he
begins his new work. Dad's going to hi