"Well, you're a little late," said Mrs. Ray, cheerfully. "Mary Cody run up for the house letters when she saw you go by. Have a nice walk?"
"Yes, very," said Ingram.
"You're great walkers down your way. Mrs. Lathbun and her daughter walk all day long, seems to me."
"They do walk a good deal," said Lassie.
Then she and Ingram went back to the hotel. They found Alva standing by the dining-room door with her lamp and her letters in her hand. Mrs. O'Neil stood close before her.
"I wouldn't worry," said Alva to Mrs. O'Neil; "I don't believe one word of it."
"When they're out to-morrow I shall sweep the room myself," said Mrs. O'Neil, decidedly; "you can learn a good deal about people by sweeping their room." Then they all separated, Ingram going to his letters, their hostess to her husband, and Alva and Lassie to their cosy nest up-stairs.
"What was the matter?" Lassie asked, directly their doors were shut.
"Nothing especial," Alva said, laughing; "it was just that Mrs. Ray came here this afternoon and rather upset Mrs. O'Neil by talking about Mrs. Lathbun and her daughter."
"What did she say?"