CHAPTER VII
THE MILL STREAM
On their way home from the old house, the four girls saw Alcinda approaching. "Don't let's say anything to her about where we've been," said Esther Ann.
"No, don't let's," returned Reba; "you know she didn't want to go there in the first place."
"It was only because she was scared to," rejoined Esther Ann.
"Well, anyhow, don't let's say anything about it," continued Reba. "Don't you say so, girls?" She looked over her shoulder at Edna and Reliance who were walking behind.
"I don't see any reason why we should," said Reliance. "Of course, if she should ask questions, we wouldn't tell her a story."
"Oh, no, we wouldn't do that," agreed the other girls.
But Alcinda had no thought of old houses or anything else at this time but her little dog, Jetty, a handsome, black Pommeranian to whom she was devoted and of whom she was very proud. "Oh, girls," she exclaimed as she came up, "have you seen or heard anything of Jetty? We haven't seen him since morning, and I am so afraid he has been stolen."
"Oh, wouldn't that be dreadful?" said Edna sympathetically.