I had it," and taking
her seat, she managed, in the most conspicuously discreet way, to slip
into the porter's palm something shiny.

"There," she added, when he was gone, "wasn't that neat, Doro? He is
ours now for the rest of the trip, and the lady on the sofa is _nil_."

Dorothy knew it was worse than useless to protest, but this was not
the sort of thing she considered fun.

"Did you have a pleasant time at Dalton?" she asked, hoping to get
Tavia's attention. "I was so sorry I could not go up for a day."

"You might be glad," replied Tavia. "Of all the stupid times--I would
have run away but for Johnnie. He took me fishing, and I--wore
overalls! Oh, only out in the woods, of course, but it was sport, and
I caught fish! It's skirts that hoodoo the catch. I have come to that
conclusion."

"In what woods did you wear--overalls?" and Dorothy looked almost
frightened. Might Tavia have the garb with her?

"Oh, away out Mushroom way. And I stretched out just like any
respectable boy, and cast the line! Dear me, Doro! I would just loved
to have smoked! That would have made it--perfect!"

"There isn't a shock left in me," Dorothy assured her, "so don't try
so hard Tavia. I am simply immune. You must have looked
just--sweet--in overalls. I hope they were dark blue."

"_Are_," corrected Tavia, "_are_ dark blue," and she wheeled around
out toward the aisle just as a young chap in white flannels passed
along. He looked down at her in that pardonable way common even in the
best style of traveling. Dorothy breathed more easily when he passed
out to the next coach.

"Wasn't he dear?" commented Tavia. "Doro, I just know we are going to
have a perfectly bang-up time, this summer."

"Take care you come out of it without too much 'banging' up,"
cautioned Dorothy. "This summer business is getting exciting."

"Wonder if we will see the man of the horse? He who made such
beautiful bows, and acted so--actly. Wasn't he lovely? My, I have
dreamed of him, Doro!"

"Foolish," replied the other. "Nat said he fancied that chap would
make trouble."

The thought that Cologne might have whispered to Dorothy something
about Tavia getting a letter from this man just flashed across her
mind. Tavia was always getting into some foolish scrape, and kept
Dorothy busy getting her out, and it just occurred to Dorothy that it
might not be a bad idea to let Tavia try getting herself out, should
she repeat her usual indiscretions of risking too