l," Carter informed them. "I saw her go by
with her books just before nine o'clock. And if you ladies can excuse me
now, I'll be going back to my work. If so be ye fall in the river or
anything, just you scream, Miss Marjorie, and I'll come and fish you
out."

"We don't fall in twice in one day," said Marjorie, with dignity, and the
two Quaker ladies trailed away across the lawn.

They went down into the orchard, to pay a visit to Breezy Inn. This was
Marjorie's tree-house which Uncle Steve had had built for her the year
before.

But the rope ladder was not there, so they could not go up, and they
wandered on, half hoping they might meet somebody who would really think
they were Quaker ladies. Crossing the orchard, they came out on one of
the main streets of the town, and saw not far away, the school which
Stella and Molly attended.

Marjorie had a sudden inspiration. "Let's go to the school," she said,
"and ask for Stella and Molly!"

"Only one of them," amended King; "which one?"

"Stella, then. We'll go to the front door, and we'll probably see the
janitor, and we'll ask him to call Stella Martin down."

"I think we'd better send for Molly."

"No, Molly would make such a racket. Stella's so much quieter, and I
don't want to make any trouble."

They reached the schoolhouse, which was a large brick building of three
or four stories. The front door was a rather impressive portal, and the
children went up the steps and rang the bell.

"You do the talking, King," said Marjorie. "You can make your voice sound
just like an old lady."

The janitor appeared in answer to their ring, and looked greatly amazed
to see two old Quaker ladies on the doorstep. The children kept their
heads down, and the large bonnets shaded their faces.

"We want to see Miss Stella Martin," said King, politely, and the clever
boy made his voice sound like that of an elderly lady.

"Yes'm," said the janitor, a little bewildered. "Will you come in?"

"No," said King, "we won't come in, thank you. Please ask Miss Stella
Martin to come down here. Her two aunts from Philadelphia want to see
her."

The janitor partly closed the door, and went upstairs to Stella's
classroom.

"We fooled him all right!" chuckled King, "but what do you suppose Stella
will say?"

"I don't know," said Midget, thoughtfully; "you never can tell what
Stella will do. She may think it's a great joke, and she may burst out
crying. She's such a funny girl."

I