as a cucumber."

"I don't show heat," replied Adele lightly. "Shall I tell Uncle William
that lunch is ready?"

"If you please."

Dr. Raymond responded to the summons slowly. Bee knew from his grave
manner that something was wrong, and all through the meal she cast
apprehensive glances in his direction. Adele did not notice his
preoccupation, and chatted gaily seemingly unaware that his replies were
monosyllabic.

"Girls," said the scientist when the repast was finished, "come into the
library with me. I wish to speak with you."

Bee followed him with uneasiness. What had gone amiss she wondered. She
could not think of anything that she had done or left undone that could
cause such gravity. Her cousin, oblivious to signs of storm, or secure,
perhaps, in the knowledge of his affection, caught hold of his arm
exclaiming merrily:

"'Come into the garden, Maude,
I am here at the gate alone.'"

"Only in this case the garden is the library. What are you going to say
to us, Uncle William? Something nice?"

"I fear not, Adele. What I have to say, however, will not be more
unpleasant for you to hear than it will be for me to say."

"Dear me!" cried she looking up at him with pretended dismay. "That
sounds formidable, doesn't it, Bee?"

Dr. Raymond held the library door open for them to enter, then closed
it, and faced them.

"When have either of you been to see old Rachel?" he asked abruptly.

"Adele went this morning," spoke Bee quickly, glad now that she had
insisted upon the visit being made.

"Indeed? How was the old woman, Adele?"

"Why, why, all right! That is--about as she always is," stammered Adele
changing color.

"Adele! Adele!" Her uncle spoke more in sorrow than in anger. "If you
went to Rachel's, how came this to be hidden in the hedge?"

He crossed to his desk, and uncovered the identical basket that Bee had
fixed for her cousin to take to Rachel. Adele gave an exclamation, but
recovered herself almost instantly.

"You see, uncle," she said, trying to speak carelessly, "it was this
way: It was so hot when I started and so near noon that I thought I
would not have time to get back for lunch, so I put the basket there
intending to run down with it when it was cooler."

"Were you there yesterday?" demanded her uncle receiving the explanation
without comment.

Adele hesitated.

"I want the truth, Adele."

"No;" confessed she faintly. "But I'll go right now, Uncle William."

"Were