the fever broke out all the English
left. We came on a very miserable ship, but we were very glad to escape."

"And those men Reda knows," went on Cleo, like a little inquisitor, "did
you meet them on the ship?"

"I don't really know, but I have heard Grandie declare to Reda that they
followed us. I blame them for most of our trouble, of course."

"And I would, too," declared Grace. "Good thing you scared them off with
your flare-up, Madaline. Will you ever forget that movie scene, with all
the lights!"

"But, girls," insisted Mary, serious again, "you know I do not feel I
should stay here, as I am staying, any longer than I actually have to. I
know you are all perfectly lovely, and Mrs. Dunbar is like a--young woman
who lives in a shoe, with so many children and so forth, but I also know
something about propriety, and it seems an imposition for me to bother
you so much."

"There, now," wailed Cleo, "just when everything is being so beautifully
fixed. Mary-love, I have a real scheme, but it's a secret. Can't I have
a secret same as you?" Cleo twisted her head characteristically. "At
any rate," she continued, "we haven't any idea of letting out Peterina
Panna (that's my feminine for Peter Pan); we haven't any idea of letting
her escape. She must stay right here until all this delicious mystery is
cleared up. You see, Peterina Panna, we are only beginning to know your
fairyland story, and now I for one am determined to put all the pieces
together and make a beautiful real dream out of it, only, of course, the
dream must be true."

"Yes, and I just wrote home begging an extension of time, so I could be
in the fairy play at the end," declared Madaline, "for I am going to have
you worked into a princess or something beautiful like that," decided
romantic little Madaline.

"I know you are all sincere," Mary said gently, "and of course it would
be difficult to arrange about going away just now, with Grandie not
strong. But he suggested that I ask Mrs. Dunbar's advice on a boarding
school."

"Don't you dare!" cried Cleo. "She might just pack us all off, and of
course we couldn't blame her, for we have turned Cragsnook into a regular
institution for noisy girls. But, hark ye! Aunt Audrey loves it that
way, and she is planning more noise for Uncle Guy's return. And wait
until you see him! You will love him. But please to remember he is
especially _my_ uncle. And now, scouts, I am going to call this mee