chairs."

"No wonder the Anarchist refuses to vacate," muttered Elfreda.

"What did you say, my dear?" remarked Mrs. Elwood amiably.

"Oh, I was just talking nonsense," averred Elfreda solemnly.

"I won't keep you girls out of your rooms any longer. I know you
must be tired from your long journey. Come upstairs at once."

Mrs. Elwood had already crossed the room and was out in the hall,
her foot on the first step of the stairs. The girls exchanged
glances. There was a half smothered chuckle from Elfreda, then Grace
hurried after their good-natured landlady. "Wait a minute, Mrs.
Elwood," began Grace, "I have something to tell you before you go
upstairs. This afternoon, when we arrived, we went directly to our
rooms. The door of our room was locked, however. We knocked
repeatedly, and it was at last opened by a young woman who said the
room was hers and refused to allow us to enter it."

During this brief recital Mrs. Elwood looked first amazed, then
incredulous. Her final expression was one of lively displeasure, and
with the exclamation, "I might have known it!" she marched upstairs
with the air of a grenadier, the girls filing in her wake. Pausing
before the door she listened intently. The sound of some one moving
within could be heard distinctly. Mrs. Elwood rapped sharply on the
door. The footsteps halted; after a few seconds the sound began again.

"She thinks we have come back," whispered Elfreda.