breathless little laugh, and her eyes shone through the
embarrassment caused by his curious gaze.

"That's just"--she began. "No. Go along, please. I can't go with you."

"Creature of mysteries"--he began.

"Do go on. You really must get a boat. I'm ashamed to be borrowing
Edna's clothes," and she ran away upstairs.

Half an hour later she was lost. Edna had been captured by her workmen.
Miss Lacey was closeted with Jenny. Dunham lingered with the newspaper
on the piazza, thinking he would speak once more with Sylvia before he
left on his quest, but she did not reappear.

At last he went and stood beneath her window and called. He could see
the white curtains swaying gently in the morning air, but no blithe
face appeared between them. No voice answered his call.

Miss Lacey came out of the house, carrying a pot of water for the sweet
peas.

"I can't think what has become of Sylvia," she said. "I've been looking
for her, too. I certainly didn't see her go out."

"All right. If she left by the window I might as well be off," he
rejoined. "I didn't know the broomstick worked by day. I thought it was
only the other end."

"I guess, to tell the truth," returned Miss Lacey, laughing, "Sylvia
doesn't know much more about one end of the broom than she does of the
other."

CHAPTER XXV

THE LITTLE RIFT

When Sylvia reappeared that noon she carried a pillowcase, which she
held before her by its corners with care. She thought to slip around
the house to the back door, but Edna and John rose from a corner of the
piazza and greeted her.

Dunham viewed the graceful bare head and warm, demurely smiling face in
its tree setting as the girl approached.

"Doesn't she look like a dryad?" he said to his companion.

"Oh," cried Edna, "so it was fir balsam you wanted to get, Sylvia. You
weren't very successful, I'm afraid. Your bag looks flat."

"Serves you right for not begging me to go with you," added John. "Edna
has been swallowed up all the morning. I think it was very careless of
you not to realize what a help I should have been."

Sylvia shook her sunny head. "No, I needed to be alone," she returned.

"Fir balsam, Edna!" exclaimed Dunham with sudden scorn. "What she has
been after is herbs and simples for the caldron. I've always yearned to
know what a simple is. Here is my grand opportunity." The young man
came toward the girl with outstretched hands. Sylvia stepped back.

"Don't touch this bag, Mr. Dun