"Now, Puck."
"Please, mamma, just till daddy comes. He'll be here awful soon now."
"Now, dear, don't tease." Margaret shook her head with gentle firmness.
"But, mother, maybe he'll let me stay to-night. He——"
"Puck, say good-night to Mrs. Herrick while I go and hurry Annie." She smiled at Jean. "You see, it really is pot-luck, including delayed dinner and family discipline."
Puck came and laid her hand in Jean's.
"It wasn't a lie, not a really lie, was it? Because we did have a lovely time."
"No, I don't think it was a lie."
"Next time you come, I'm going to ask my daddy first——"
But a key turned in the lock and Puck fled.