"Given his word not to blab? Hope to die?" That was their childish form of vow, hers and Dick's.
"I hope so," said Raven doubtfully. "I represented it to him as being necessary."
"I'll represent it, too," said Nan. "Now, Rookie, I'm going over there, first thing to-morrow morning. I'm going to see Tenney."
"The deuce you are! I'm afraid that won't do."
"Nothing else will," said Nan. "Tenney's got to give his consent. We can't do any kidnaping business. That's no good."
She said it with the peremptory implication of extinguishing middle-aged scruples, and Raven also felt it to be "no good."
"Very well," said he. "You know best. I'll go with you."
"Oh, no, you won't. There are too many men-folks in it now. I'm going alone. Now, come back and talk to the family. Oh, I hope and pray Dick'll be good! Doesn't he look dear to-night, all red, as if he'd been logging? Has he? Have you? You look just the same. Oh, I do love Dick! I wish he'd let me, the way I want to."
Meantime Charlotte had come in, and Nan went to her and put her hands on her shoulders and rubbed cheeks, as she used to do with Raven.
"Come on," she said to him. "Time!"