From being a sceptic, Stott now became enthusiastic.

He promised to co-operate in every way and to keep Shirley's whereabouts an absolute secret.

The girl, therefore, began to make her preparations for departure from home by telling her parents that she had accepted an invitation to spend a week or two with an old college chum in New York.
That same evening her mother, the judge, and Stott went for a stroll after dinner and left her to take care of the house.

They had wanted Shirley to go, too, but she pleaded fatigue.

The truth was that she wanted to be alone so she could ponder undisturbed over her plans.