d, "but I feel somehow different now. I do
believe I was going to grow black and suspicious, like Reda, when you
met me."

"No wonder," Jennie almost snapped. "I'm not what could be called a
nervous woman, but this evening has been more than I would like to run
into again. Not that I am not very glad to have been along, though I
didn't help much, with my own fussing," she felt obliged to add, for
Cleo had pinched her arm and Grace unbuttoned her sweater, in an
attempt to give the cue not to hurt Mary's feelings.

"Will everything be all right at your cottage, Mary?" asked Cleo,
kindly.

"It will have to be for to-night," she replied. "But granddaddy has
such precious belongings I will have to attend to things early
to-morrow morning. He is dreadfully worried about leaving things, of
course, but Janos has gone, and those others----" Her hands went up in
a gesture of consternation, and the girls withheld their questions as
to who the others were, and what could have been the nature of the
mysterious happening in the back room of Imlay Studio.

All this time Mary was guarding the hand-made basket with jealous care,
keeping it on her lap, and steadying it with arms as the car rumbled
down the mountain road.

They were now within sight of Cragsnook and Jennie shifted about in
evident relief.

"Here comes Shep!" exclaimed Madaline, as the big, shaggy dog rushed
out from the heather-edged driveway.

"And there is Aunt Audrey," added Cleo. "I'm so glad she's home."

At the sight of another stranger Madaline could feel Mary shrink back,
and the faint sigh that escaped her lips was noticed by Grace as well.

"You will love Aunt Audrey," said Grace in Mary's ear. "She is only
aunt to Cleo, but we all call her Aunt Audrey, and she's just lovely."
This in the most reassuring tones.

"Oh, yes," Mary answered, conscious her tremor of timidity had been
noticed. "She looks so--so like my own Loved One as I remember her. I
was thinking I may make a lot of mistakes, but you will excuse them?"

The round of chuckles, and the merry twitters given her in lieu of
formal opinions, restored her sinking spirits somewhat, but each of the
three attentive, sympathetic girls keenly realized Mary's discomfiture.

"Well, well!" exclaimed Mrs. Dunbar as they drew in. "Whatever became
of you all? If Mally Mack had not met me at the station, and told me
you were going for a mountain drive, I should have been a little bit
worrie