ed. "Let's move on
and get a different view."

There was not a soul to be seen. With the exception of the swans, the
inhabitants of the Manor did not seem to be early risers. Lenox and
Diana grew bolder, and ventured nearer. By degrees they got right to the
edge of the moat. The view here was beautiful, for it took in the bridge
and the embattled tower, with the coat of arms over the doorway. It was
exactly what they wanted to carry home to America. Lenox snapped it with
huge satisfaction, including the swans, which luckily swam into the
scene at the psychological moment.

"I'd give worlds to be able to go inside and explore," said Diana. "I
wish I could make myself invisible. D'you think we dare just toddle
across the bridge, and perhaps peep in through a window? There's nobody
watching. O-o-o-oh!"

She might well exclaim, for, in direct contradiction to her words, the
door at that moment opened, and an elderly lady made her appearance. She
walked slowly with the aid of a cane, but it was evident that she had
seen the intruders on her property, and was coming to tackle them.
Swift and hasty flight seemed the only way out of the difficulty.

"Quick, Lenox! Run!" gasped Diana.

She turned, as she spoke, to make a dash for the cover of the shrubs,
but in her hurry and agitation she tripped on her dangling shoe lace,
missed her footing, slipped, tumbled down the bank, and fell backwards
with a splash into the moat.

It was not very deep, and Lenox hauled her out in a minute. There she
stood upon the bank a dripping object, her nice dress all coated with
duckweed and green slime. Her hat was floating away in the direction of
the swans. The lady had crossed the bridge, and with the help of her
cane walked painfully down the bank. Lenox and Diana felt like a pair of
naughty school children caught stealing apples. The situation was most
ignominious. Their faces would have made a study for a comic artist,
especially Diana's, with smears of duckweed on her cheeks, and her moist
hair hanging over her shoulders. They wondered what Mrs. Elliot was
going to say to them.

She came slowly up, blinking her eyes rather nervously, looked Diana
over from dripping head to muddy shoes, then made the obvious comment:

"You're very wet!"

"Ye-e-es!" shivered Diana, with chattering teeth.

"You'd better come indoors and have your clothes dried."

The relief of receiving such a charitable reception, instead of the
stern rebuke the