"Girls!" and then the boys peeped out a bit too far, and Dorothy saw who had been playing echo.
It was Jack Tiverton and a boy whom he had chosen for a "chum." Jack had not intended so soon to be discovered, and he and his friend disappeared in a little grove, while Dorothy and Nancy continued their walk.
There were sunny paths and bits of woodland that were so near the hotel as to be absolutely safe, where all the summer guests, especially the children, loved to roam at will. Along one of these little paths were sweet little yellow blossoms, and these they gathered to brighten their bouquets.
"Let's have some of these little vines to hang from our bouquets," said Dorothy, and the graceful vines proved to be an added beauty.
When they returned to the Cleverton there were but few people upon the piazza.
Mrs. Dainty and Aunt Charlotte sat talking with Mrs. Vinton, and farther along, Mrs. Fenton sat with an open book upon her lap, although she was not reading.
She often had a book or magazine, but rarely did she read them.
She would sit looking off at the distant mountain-range, the white clouds, or the sunny valley over which those clouds cast floating shadows.
Did she hear the conversation, or notice what was going on about her? Floretta Paxton said that Mrs. Fenton acted as if she sat there to watch some one; and was Floretta right? Mrs. Fenton's actions certainly seemed strange day after day. She talked little, took slight interest in what was going on about her, and was a mystery to all the other guests.
But what, or whom could she be watching?