immediately after breakfast the next morning mrs. ramsey bore off miss newman in the automobile, and the two were gone most of the morning. "and there is the porch party this afternoon," said jennie. "it must be something very important or mother wouldn't stay so long."
"what do you think it could be?" asked edna. louis had not yet made his appearance and the little girls had resumed their old harmonious attitude toward one another.
"i'm sure i don't know, but i think it must be something about miss newman."
"let's ask miss eloise if she knows," suggested dorothy.
but miss eloise could give them no satisfaction. "sister said they were going off on a little matter of business and that she would tell me when they came back," she informed the children.
"well, lunch is on the table," said edna, "so we won't have to wait very long."
she was quite right for at this moment the two ladies arrived. "what did keep you so forever, mother?" asked jennie as her mother joined the others who were already at table.
"well, my dear, it is quite a story. we have had a great morning of it, and as soon as we get something to eat we will tell you all about it. i am sure miss newman is half starved, for we have been from dan to beersheba this morning."
"those sound like bible places," spoke up edna.
"so they are," said mrs. ramsey laughing, and though edna was puzzled she did not stop to inquire further because just here miss newman said, "and what do you think we have been doing?" and then before anyone could guess, "we've been house-hunting," she said.
"house-hunting," repeated miss eloise. "sister, what do you mean?"
then mrs. ramsey broke in with, "and the best of it is we have not hunted in vain."
this all sounded so very mysterious that everyone began asking questions until mrs. ramsey cried, "do be quiet all of you and we'll try to tell you." so everyone subsided into expectancy and she began. "the house is for miss newman and miss eloise, and it is the duncan's bungalow."
"oh, mother," jennie broke in, "that dear cunning little place at the edge of the woods? you don't mean that."
"that is just what i do mean and it has all come about in the loveliest way, but i am not going to tell anything more till after lunch. you have had sauce enough for your curiosity and you can wait."
"it all sounds so bewildering that i am not sure whether i am awake or not," said miss eloise. "either i am dreaming or i shall have to believe in fairies. i think i would rather believe in fairies, for i am sure a very good one has been at work."
luncheon was disposed of in such short order that mrs. ramsey declared that everyone would have an attack of indigestion on account of such hasty eating, but she agreed to gratify the curiosity so very apparent and led the way to the porch where they all usually settled for a little talk after meals.
"shall i tell or will you, miss newman?" she asked.
"you, please, for you can begin further back of the facts than i can who did not come into them till this morning."
"well, then," began mrs. ramsey, "it all began with jennie."
"with me?" came in a surprised voice from jennie.
"yes, you," mrs. ramsey nodded. "it was when we were out in the automobile yesterday afternoon and were talking of how soon miss newman and miss eloise must end their visit, and you said you wished they could stay and wasn't there some little cottage they could take. then you further set the ball rolling by adding that you wished there were a school that kept open all summer so miss newman could be occupied there. that was the very beginning, for it set me thinking. i remembered that mrs. duncan had said to me the last time i saw her, that she was afraid rudolph wouldn't be able to enter college this fall as he had lost so much time on account of his illness last spring, but that she did not want to send him away anywhere to prepare for his examinations as he needed the sea air and the attention he would get at home. moreover, her husband objected to his having a resident tutor for various reasons, and they thought rudolph would overtax his strength if he went into boston every day. all this suddenly came up to me and i said to myself, why shouldn't miss newman be as capable of coaching him as a tutor? that was the first thought, and then i remembered the little bungalow. i knew the duncans had met with some losses this year, that their two eldest sons, for whom the bungalow was built, had gone abroad, and that maybe they would let miss newman have it in exchange for coaching rudolph. that is what took me over there last evening."
miss eloise's face was lit up as with a flame and her lovely eyes were like stars. "oh," she breathed, "didn't i say i had to believe in a good fairy?"
"so," mrs. ramsey went on, "i had a most satisfactory interview with mrs. duncan who promised to talk over the matter with her husband when he should come home last evening, and i went away promising to go over this morning with miss newman. mr. duncan stayed at home to see her and we talked and talked, first with mrs. duncan, then with mr. duncan and last of all with rudolph, and before we came away it was all settled. miss newman is to have the bungalow and rudolph is to have the coaching."
"good! good!" cried jennie clapping her hands. "did miss newman see the bungalow?"
"yes, we went all through it."
"isn't it a dear little place? i went all through it, too. oh, miss eloise, it is so cunning. there are just four rooms: a living room with a big fireplace, two bedrooms and a cunning kitchen. the boys used to have spreads there, and would cook all sorts of messes. there is a bath-room, too. you can have either salt water, or fresh water, just as we have."
miss eloise put out her hand to clasp her sister's. "it sounds too good to be true," she whispered.
"but, mamma," cried jennie suddenly, "have you forgotten the porch party? it is almost time for the children to come."
"dear me!" exclaimed mrs. ramsey, "i very nearly forgot, though i told emma what preparations to make, and i am sure it will be all right. still, you little girls had best go change your frocks so as to be ready."
the three flew upstairs chattering like magpies, and when up they flew around excitedly so as to get down again to ask more questions, though this they were not able to do as the very first relay of guests arrived before they were quite dressed. these happened to be the potters. they were followed by louis and two other boys from the hotel, and then the arrivals did not cease till twenty children were established around miss eloise. for an hour they were delighted listeners, for it seemed as if this teller of tales had never been in better spirits nor had she ever told a more entrancing story, and when at last it came to an end there were many long drawn "ahs" which showed that no one was ready to have her stop.
then the carriages and automobiles began coming up and the children were whirled away, though in several cases the mothers who had come for them remained to speak to miss eloise, and one or two remained in earnest conversation with mrs. ramsey long after the others had gone.
it had been such an exciting day for miss eloise that she retired very early, and the little girls sat by themselves in a corner of the living-room while mrs. ramsey and miss newman talked in a low tone before the open fire. the evening was cool and it was not only too chilly to sit on the porch, but none too warm for the fire. the little girls themselves, though animated enough at first, soon began to grow drowsy and presently edna's head was in jennie's lap while jennie's head was on dorothy's shoulder, and dorothy herself was propped up against the wall trying in vain to keep 76her eyes open. the murmur of voices went on and in a few minutes jennie, finding that her prop was beginning to sway over toward a chair, roused up to hear her mother say:
"are you sure she will not find it too much of a task, miss newman?"
"i am quite sure she will not, for she has her children's hour every day in the city, and she will be so rejoiced at the idea of earning something that she will be more than ever eager to do it. then, consider, mrs. ramsey, how much stronger she is."
of course this must be about miss eloise, but what could she be going to do to enable her to earn money? jennie was wide awake at once. she had more than once heard miss eloise long to be earning something, and now she was going to do it. rather unceremoniously edna's head was transferred to dorothy's lap and jennie got up to go to the two by the fire.
"oh, mamma," she said, "i do so want to know what you are talking about. is it miss eloise and what is she going to do?"
"dear me," said mrs. ramsey, "i thought you children had gone into the other room, you were all so quiet."
"i think we were all half asleep. i know edna is in dreamland, and i think dorothy is, too."
"well, my dear," spoke up miss newman, "i am sure eloise will not object to your knowing that 77when we get into our little bungalow she is to have a porch party of her own every day. several of the ladies who were here this afternoon, said they would be so pleased if she would agree to give an hour each day to the telling of tales to a certain number of children, and offered to pay very liberally for it. many of the ladies are boarding, and would like a quiet hour when they could be sure their restless little children were not annoying anyone by their noise, and when this plan was proposed they were more than pleased."
"and what did miss eloise say?" asked jennie. "does she know?"
"oh, yes, for she had to be consulted, of course. i have seldom seen her so pleased."
"then i am very glad," said jennie. "may i tell the other girls?"
"certainly you may."
"and since you are all tired out i think you'd better run up to bed," said her mother. "it has been a very full day and we shall all turn in early."
thus charged jennie went over to rouse the others who, though still sleepy, were ready to show interest in what jennie had to tell them, and were heard talking of it all the way up the stairs.
a more careful examination of the little bungalow showed that there would be some things wanted for the entire comfort of the newman sisters, but these mrs. ramsey insisted upon furnishing, or at least lending from her own home, so the next week saw the inmates happy as two birds in a nest. cap'n si's grand-daughter was engaged to come over every morning to do up the dishes and help get dinner and the rest was easy enough, miss newman declared. everyone missed miss eloise from her place on the porch, but she was so happy in her new surroundings, that all rejoiced for her. the little girls found amusement enough and managed to get along very well indeed when only the three were together, but when louis appeared there was nearly always sure to be discord.
therefore one morning when louis was seen coming in the gate, dorothy gave an impatient "oh, pshaw! i thought we were going to have a nice pleasant time to-day, and here comes louis."
"i wish you wouldn't talk that way about my cousin," said edna, her loyal spirit rising within her.
"i can't help it if he is your cousin, he is always doing or saying something to stir up a fuss. i don't see why he likes to play with girls, anyhow. i should think he would much rather play with boys."
"there aren't any but very big boys or very little ones at the hotel," explained edna.
"then why doesn't he go play with billy potter?"
"billy potter, that stick?" edna spoke in great contempt. "why he is such a lump that he couldn't play with anyone."
"well, at least he wouldn't fuss with them. we were going to play dolls, this morning, and louis will never do that."
"i'm going to play dolls, whatever louis does or says," spoke up jennie.
"so am i then," declared dorothy. "what are you going to do, edna?"
"i don't know," said edna doubtfully. she dearly loved dolls, but she did not intend to desert louis.
"well, if you want to play with louis you can," continued dorothy; "but unless he will play with dolls he cannot come with us."
edna turned slowly and went forward to meet louis who had crossed the lawn and was nearly up to them. "hallo," said he.
"hallo," returned edna rather dejectedly. "the girls say they are going to play with the dolls out in the summer house; i don't suppose you want to play with them."
"with dolls? not i. if that's what they are going to do you and i can go down to the beach and build a sandcastle or go fishing or something."
"oh, not fishing," replied edna quickly. her tender heart could never stand that. "i'd just as lief build castles though." she followed louis down to the beach and for a while they played quite contentedly.
after a while louis tired of castles and proposed that they go further along. "i know where there is a cave," he said. "we can play at being robbers, or smugglers."
"how far is it?" asked edna.
"oh, not very far." louis waved his hand toward the point which curved beyond them. "it's just down that way."
they set off together along the beach, but though they climbed over great boulders and scrambled around scraggy roots of trees the place was ever beyond them.
"i think it is awfully far," said edna at last.
"oh, it can't be far now; the boys told me it was this side of the point."
"oh, but i thought you knew just where it was."
"so i do. didn't the boys tell me?" louis spoke with such assurance that edna followed on and was presently relieved to hear him say:
"look there. what did i tell you?"
sure enough just ahead of them was a hollowed place in the bank which might easily be called a cave. the bank was quite high just here and stretched down almost to the sea so there was but a small stretch of sand in front of the cave. the children clambered into the shelter to rest, but louis was not content to sit still for long.
"i'm going out to explore," he said. "you sit here till i come back. i won't stay long."
he was as good as his word for in a few minutes he returned. "guess what," he began. "there's a boat out there. i'm going to borrow it and then we can pretend you are a female smuggler or you can be a robber maid and will rescue me to rob me. no, i'd rather have it the other way. i'll be the robber and will find you in this sea cave with a hoard of jewels that were left with you after a shipwreck. i'll go get the boat and row in."
"oh, louis, indeed you'd better not," said edna in fear lest he be too foolhardy.
"but i'm not going out to sea really. the boat is just round the little bend the other side of us. i don't mean to steal it. i'll take it back when we get through playing."
"please don't, louis. i'm so afraid you will upset or something, besides i don't think you ought to take the boat even for a little while. suppose the owner should come and want it."
"oh, no, he won't." louis was always very ready to believe things were going to happen just to suit him. "isn't that just like a girl to get all worked up over a little thing like that? why, i rowed ever so far the other day, and this is only a few yards."
"but suppose, just suppose the boat should leak. it may be an old one."
"i'll examine it first. you don't have to come, you know. all you have to do is to be the robber maid, no, i mean the ship-wrecked one. you might 82be gathering some pebbles for make-believe jewels. you can hide them in that corner and i will discover them. you must be asleep when i come."
seeing no persuasion was of any avail, edna watched louis go off and then set herself to work to gather pebbles. this was rather a pleasant amusement, and she soon had a nice little pile of those which were either milky white, which showed some faint color, or which shone with spots of mica or quartz. her jewels in order, she began to think it high time to be expecting the robber, so she lay down on the sand to compose herself in pretended slumber.
she lay there for some time, and being tired could almost have dropped off into a real sleep, only that she felt anxious about her cousin. why didn't he come? "perhaps he is fishing, or maybe he is talking to the man that owns the boat. the man might have come up and he might be angry with louis for meddling. i think i'll go and peep."
she crawled out of the cave surprised to find the strip of beach much narrower than she remembered it. really there was no beach to speak of now, for just as she was venturing out a wave came curling up to her very feet. she retreated, a good deal alarmed. the cave was high enough for her to stand upright, but was not very deep. she stood for a moment watching the water at the entrance. it didn't come so far in the next time, but still it was quite far enough to cause alarm. suppose the tide were rising and it should come up, up into the very furthest corner of the cave. the thought filled her with terror, and gave sudden purpose to her movements. she would flee while there was yet time. she dashed out, unheeding the water through which she splashed, and which came over her ankles. her main thought was to climb up the bank and get beyond any possibility of the tide's over-taking her. scrambling, falling, clutching at the bayberry bushes which fastened themselves securely into the soil, she managed at last to reach the top. from here she believed she could see up and down the coast. but all at once it was made evident to her that she could not see, for a chill grey fog had crept in, and was enveloping land and sea. strain her eyes as she would there was no house visible, neither was there sign of louis nor the boat.
