to see one of those plants
act."

"I am going to give you this one--please, Mrs. Dunbar," said Mary,
timidly. "Janos, that is Reda's brother, has been watching for it. He
said a New York woman had offered him a lot of money for one. That is
why I brought this one with me. Will you--accept it?"

"Oh gladly, Mary dear. It is a real curiosity, and when Mr. Dunbar
comes home he too will be delighted with it. But now I have such good
news about Professor Benson. He is getting much stronger. The doctor
saw him this morning, and thinks he has been suffering from shock and
fear. He advised, however, that we leave him quiet this morning. I
knew that would be a disappointment to you, Mary dear, but you wouldn't
want to delay his progress."

"Oh, no indeed," and the two hands clasped excitedly. "If only he can
recall--get back his memory," Mary corrected hurriedly, "perhaps after
all it might all come back."

"You will be able to help the doctors in a day or two, I am sure,"
suggested Mrs. Dunbar. "It appears to be a case of stagnated memory.
Something registered in his brain as extremely important is simply
clogged there. When he is stronger, then suggestion may be the key to
open that congested memory valve."

"I know--yes--I know," replied Mary, and the far-away look in her own
eyes gave the girls a hint which they were sure to follow promptly.

They immediately changed the subject.

CHAPTER XIV

AT THE STUDIO

"You don't mind my running away again, girls?" Mrs. Dunbar asked,
folding the yellow telegram into the most unnecessarily minute squares.
"It is such a nuisance, but I have to see some of those delegates
safely out of New York. Mere artists are not always prudent tourists."

"Auntie dear, we hate to have you go." Cleo dipped her head in the
quaint bird-like perk. "But we can have a lovely time here even
alone--I mean without you. Oh, no, not without you----" And the burst
of laughter that applauded her confusion was like a full colored
illustration of a verbal mistake. "Now, you all know what I mean," she
finished, pouting prettily.

"Of course we do," acceded her aunt. "You can have a perfectly lovely
time without me, and get into the most delicious mischief, tagging poor
Jennie along. I have given her orders, you know, to report to me by
phone if you take a notion to go up in an airship, or tie a kite by
hand to the moon, so don't venture too far from good old earth. Mary,
yo