"I thought so myself," returned Aunt Sarah. "Henry Dent made me miss the train by five minutes yesterday morning, so I had to take the afternoon train. That was an hour late owing to a washout, so I couldn't make connection in Washington, but had to stay all night there with Cousin Lou, though I did get the earliest train this morning. Your mother got off safely, Jack tells me. Why aren't you children at school?"
"There wasn't any school to-day," promptly replied Jean.
"How's that?" Miss Dent turned sharply.
"I don't know," said Jean.
"Did you hear the reason?" asked Nan, turning to Jack. She had been so occupied that the question of school had given her very little thought that day.
"There wasn't one of the scholars there," replied Jack truthfully and with a guileless look.
"How do you know?"
"I was down there and saw."
"Down where? Did you go to the schoolhouse?"
"I didn't go in."