"Then why did she go in?"
"She went for the spoons, you intolerable boy," said Violet.
"Do to talk of," said Magnus coolly. "No, my dear; she went because this intolerable boy was around. So you perceive it is very kind of me to keep her where she cannot see him. Come, chicks; let's get the old banjo, and I'll sing you the 'Song of the Summer Girl.'"
"If you sing one single note when Cherry is not by to hear, we will stop our ears," said Rose.
"Then you will not be able to tell her about it afterwards," said Magnus. "Come along."
"Well, you cannot have your dinner till we get the spoons," said Violet.
"At West Point we eat with forks—when we have them," said Magnus. "When we do not, we take our fingers. Where is that banjo?"
The girls followed him, talking and scolding and threatening to tell Mr. Erskine, but Cherry had no idea of waiting for outside help. She was a girl of resources, and the case in hand was not very hard. For this was an outside lock, simply screwed on; an old knife made a fair screwdriver; and, when Magnus had just reached the next room, a soft chink made him look round, and there was Cherry, calmly putting the spoons in place.
"Where did you come from?" he said, turning back.