"I remembered your name," he said triumphantly.

"How did you?" asked Elizabeth, amazed.

"Papa told us. Do you remember my papa? He was out here one day last
summer with our lawyer. His name's Mr. Huntley. Mr. Huntley calls you
'Queen Elizabeth.'"

It was all clear to Elizabeth now. So that jolly, fat man, who didn't
seem to care whether Eppie and her grandpa kept their farm or not, was
the velvet boy's father; and the nasty man who was trying to take it
from them was his friend. And, further, this must be the dreadful bad
boy whom Sarah Emily called the "Centipede," and for whom she used to
iron all day, and whose mother was so proud and haughty. She felt
rather disillusioned. She wished, too, that he hadn't said "papa."
She was afraid John and Charles Stuart would do something violent if
they heard him.

But when Elizabeth reached home that afternoon, and Mary related all
the day's exciting experiences, to her surprise, her aunt seemed almost
joyful. She even smoothed Elizabeth's hair, and said she had behaved
very discreetly. Mrs. Jarvis might hear about her from the little boy,
when she returned, and perhaps something might happen. Further, she
was sure the little Oliver boy was a gentleman and had a genteel
bringing-up. Elizabeth looked vastly pleased, but John hung his head
and scowled, and Sarah Emily snorted quite out loud. When supper was
over, Annie drew Elizabeth away from the others and questioned her.

"Did the Oliver boy say anything about Mr. Huntley--or--or anyone else?"

Elizabeth understood perfectly. There was a strong tie between these
two since the younger sister had delivered a certain precious note with
such care and discretion. Elizabeth knew who "anyone else" meant. No,
the velvet boy had not said anything about other people; but to-morrow
she would ask him.

The velvet boy proved a source of valuable information, being very
willing to talk. Of course, he knew Mr. Coulson. He had often seen
him in Mr. Huntley's office; he was fine fun and could tell dandy
stories. And Mrs. Jarvis, for whom Elizabeth was called, was his
mamma's aunt. She was ever and ever so rich, and was away in the Old
Country now, just pitching her money around, mamma said; and she might
have taken her and Madeline along. Aunt Jarvis was very fond of
Madeline, and mamma said she would be sure to leave her and Horace all
her money when she died, though why she couldn't give them a little
more o