"We will come for you in the surrey at ten o'clock, and all drive together to the back of Brayley's yard and take all the melons we want." "It'll serve him right," said Peggy, delightedly.

"Ol' Dan called me a meddler onc't--in public--an' I'm bound t' git even with him." "Don't betray us, sir," pleaded Beth.
"I can't," replied McNutt, frankly; "I'm in it myself, an' we'll jest find out what his blame-twisted ol' fifteen-cent mellings is like." Patsy was overjoyed at the success of her plot, which she had conceived on the spur of the moment, as most clever plots are conceived.

On the way home she confided to her cousins a method of securing revenge upon the agent for selling them the three copies of the "Lives of the Saints." "McNutt wants to get even with Brayley, he says, and we want to get even with McNutt.

I think our chances are best, don't you ?" she asked.
And they decided to join the conspiracy.
There was some difficulty escaping from Uncle John and the Major that night, but Patsy got them interested in a game of chess that was likely to last some hours, while Beth stole to the barn and harnessed Joe to the surrey.

Soon the others slipped out and joined her, and with Patsy and Beth on the front seat and Louise Inside the canopy they drove slowly away until the sound of the horse's feet on the stones was no longer likely to betray them.
McNutt was waiting for them when they quietly drew up before his house.
The village was dark and silent, for its inhabitants retired early to bed.