The three cousins played together most amicably all the next morning. In Mary's breast hope was high, for might not Ellis appear at any time with the pin? She counted much on that notice in the Green Island post-office. She was brighter than she had been for days so that Molly confided to Polly: "She seems more like us."
"I'm beginning to like her real well," admitted Polly. "She isn't so stiff as she was at first."
"I suppose her Englishism is wearing off," returned Molly.
But that afternoon when she returned from the post-office, whither she had gone for her Aunt Ada, she beckoned to Polly who was playing jacks with Mary. They had a set of jackstones which they had collected themselves from the pebbles on the beach, and the place was much more interesting because of them.
"What do you want?" asked Polly following Molly into the house. "Are there any letters for me?"
"No," said Molly, "but just wait a minute and I'll tell you. I must take Aunt Ada her mail first." Her manner was mysterious and Polly wondered what mighty secret she had to disclose.
"Let's go down to the rocks, to the lion's den," proposed Molly when she came back into the room. "We'd better go around by the back way."
Polly looked surprised. "Why? What for?"
"I've something to tell you and I don't want any one to bear. You will scarcely believe it, Polly, and I'm sure I don't know what to do about it."
"Oh, dear, what can it be?" said Polly. "Is it anything about Luella? Is she going to leave?"