fishing and turtle
hunting to-night, and all I got was--wet," she groaned. "And my nice
clean gingham! Whatever will Jennie say!"

"Nothing, dearie, don't you mind," soothed Cleo. "We are so glad to
see you safely landed we can even forgive the turtle. It was a
perfectly foolish thing to do, to fall in the brook at this hour, with
not even a boy scout to perform a daring, dashing rescue. Madie, I'm
surprised at your lack of judgment. Think how Mally Mack would have
loved to pull you out by the hair!"

"And carry you home in his manly arms!" chimed in Grace. "What a
chance wasted!"

"And think of rolling our little fat girl on a big bumple barrel----"

But Madaline had recovered her poise and posture, not to mention
proclivities, and, taking to the better foot-hold on the clumps of
grass along the bank, a little farther from the bridge, she managed to
scamper after both her tormentors. Mary was also in the race, and on
reaching the road safely even the turtle was forgotten.

"Am I all mud?" asked Madaline, shaking her skirts.

"No, really you are not," Mary assured her. "It is only your slippers
and stockings, and it is so dark they won't show. But I hope my pretty
dress is not soiled. I was foolish to put it on for fishing, but I was
so proud I wanted to try it."

"Oh, come on. It's getting dark and Aunt Audrey is having company,"
said Cleo. "Madaline, you will have to change your shoes, of course,
then we can come out again, and go for a walk. It's all right to go
toward the village, but we must turn our backs on the mountains with
sundown. Mary-love, when may we go up to the studio to do some
exploring?" she changed the subject. "You know you said you wanted to
look over Reda's things and send them to her, if you knew where she
might get them?"

"Yes, I have been anxious about that," said Mary, falling in step with
Cleo, while Grace went ahead with Madaline. "I would so like to know
about Reda. I wonder where she is?"

"Wouldn't she go to friends?" Cleo asked.

"Oh, those men would frighten her, and you remember what that woman on
the mountain road said about police the other day," and Mary shuddered
as she recalled the maid's careless speech about the police looking for
the gypsy woman. "I feel so helpless sometimes," the child sighed.

"But please don't, Mary," Cleo spoke up. "You have no idea how much we
girls have done already in difficult matters. Why, I wouldn't be
afraid to go