She stopped first at Aunt Judith's cottage.
She could not have told why she chose first to call there. Aunt Judith and the little maid had gone down to the parsonage for a call, and Gwen knocked until she was tired, then paused on the step, trying to decide where next she would call.
"Stupid that everyone is in school, and won't be out for an hour!" she said.
Then her eyes brightened.
"I know where I'll go!" she cried.
She turned from the avenue into a pretty street, and ran along until she reached a house that set a little farther back than the others.
"There's a lady who lives here who looks pleasant, and I've always meant to see the inside of her house," thought Gwen. "I can stay a little while there, and be just in time to meet the other girls when they come out of school."
She rang the bell.
No one came to the door. After waiting a few moments she rang again.
Again she waited, listening for approaching footsteps. Then she stooped, and tried to peep through the keyhole. She turned, a crafty light in her eyes, and she nodded until her curls danced as she softly said;