"I promised the girl with the raven locks that I wouldn't," he said, "so you can trust me."
"Did she ask you not to?" said Rosalie.
"Not she. It was only by plying her with direct questions that we could get a word out of her. The old gentleman thought they were crazy, and was all for sending them to a lunatic asylum."
"Poor dears," murmured Rosalie, going swiftly to the carriage and opening the door. "I am so glad you've come, girls," she said, losing all attempt at being mysterious in her delight at seeing them safe. "We didn't know what had happened. Becky was just telephoning to inquire if the carriage had gone home and what the coachman had to report."
"Oh, may we speak to some one, just once?" asked Janet in eager, hurried tones.
"Why yes, under the circumstances you may," returned Rosalie. "I am sure it will be allowable. What did you want to say?"
"We must thank Mr. Austin," said Janet. "It would be dreadful not to when he has been so kind."
"Surely you must. I will answer for that," said Rosalie.
Then the three girls expressed their thanks as cordially as they could, and were assisted up the steps by their escort, the door closed behind them, and he drove away leaving them to face the mysteries of initiation.
When they emerged from their stay of three hours behind closed doors they were full-fledged frats. They were also something else, for they were able to pose as the heroines of an adventure. Not a girl in this inner circle but clamored for an account of their experiences while under the Austins' roof.