ara, feeling rather pleased
that the girls felt fidgety over the nonappearance of their company.

"He wasn't foolish-looking at all! In fact I never saw such a fine head
with such intelligence as he had," retorted Eleanor.

"Come on, Nolla, let's walk down to the Cliffs and sit up on the
'Guards' where we can see the trail all the way to Bear Forks,"
suggested Polly, jumping up from the chair.

"All right! we may meet them before we get there," added Eleanor.

"You two certainly are acting silly over a mere boy you know nothing
about!" snapped Barbara, who felt peeved at losing the targets for her
sarcasm.

The only reply given this parting shot was a merry laugh. Both girls
skipped blithely along the path and were soon out of sight where the
roadway ran behind the steep banks of the terrace.

"Now that we are out of the way of Bob's eyes and tongue, let's go
slower or we'll spoil our shoes," said Eleanor, stopping to see if any
dust showed on her shiny toes.

"And we won't climb the high Guards, but just sit on the ledge nearest
the trail," added Polly.

The Sunday dinner hour at Pebbly Pit was usually at one o'clock, so
everything was ready and waiting just before that time. But no visitors
appeared, and Mrs. Brewster sent Anne down the road to see if the girls
and boys were visiting the Causeway and other unusual features of
Rainbow Cliffs.

"Oh, Anne! Are you alone?" called Eleanor, when she saw the messenger
coming from the house.

"Yes--are you?" returned Anne, shading her eyes from the sun, as she
looked up at the ledge.

"Come on up," Polly called, leaning over the rocks.

Anne soon joined them and looked around. "Where do you suppose those
boys can be?"

"That's just what we want to know. I'm sure we were plain enough in
telling that boy that he was to come over with Jim Latimer for
Sunday--weren't we?" demanded Eleanor.

"I thought it was plain enough, but Bob declares that the boy was too
stupid to understand a simple invitation. She is in her glory because
every one is disappointed," said Anne.

"I wouldn't let her see me feeling bad for anything!" exclaimed Polly,
stiffly. "But I do wish they would come, because I wanted to find out if
he ever knew _any one_ like our Old Man Montresor."

"Look! See way over there--out on the Bear Forks road?" now exclaimed
Eleanor, pointing away towards the distant trail.

"Sure enough!" breathed Anne, with relief.

"But there are three, and we only