All thoughts of him, however, were soon driven from my mind by the sound of Emma's voice as she said, "Mollie, darling, can you keep a secret ?" I didn't think I could, as I never had been intrusted with one, so I advised her to give it to Anna, who was very fond of them.

But she said, "I am sure you can do it, Mollie.

Promise me that you will not tell them at home what you have seen or heard." I promised, and then in my joy at owning a secret, I forgot the little figures which waltzed back and forth before the old mine, I forgot the woods through which we passed, nor was the silence broken until we reached the lane.

Then I said, "What shall we tell the folks when they ask where we have been ?" "Leave that to me," answered Emma.
As we drew near the house we met grandmother, Juliet, Anna and Sally, all armed and equipped for a general hunt.

We were immediately assailed with a score of questions as to what had kept us so long.