"It's really time for us to go, girls," said Grace, laughing a
little. She rose and held out her hand to the older woman.

"You are very cruel," smiled Mrs. Allison. "You arouse my
curiosity and then refuse to satisfy it. But you cannot escape so
easily. You must come to see me again before I leave here. I shall
not try to return to the Gibsons before Wednesday. I expect Mr.
Gibson here to-morrow and he will attend to my New York business
for me. If I had accepted his offer in the first place, I might
have spared myself this accident. However, I am glad, now. It has
brought me charming friends. For I feel that we shall become
friends," she added, stretching out both hands. "When will you
come again?"

"On Tuesday afternoon after school," replied Grace promptly. "And
we will bring Miss Bright, too, unless she and Mabel have some
other engagement."

There was purpose in Grace's last remark. She wished to see if the
name "Mabel" made any impression upon her listener, and therefore
kept her eyes fixed upon Mrs. Allison.

As Grace carelessly mentioned the name she saw an expression of
pain flit across Mrs. Allison's fine face.

"I shall be glad to see Miss Bright," she said quietly. "Is the
'Mabel' you speak of her sister?"

"No," replied Grace hastily, "she is a girl friend. May we bring
her with us?"