"Opened the door and walked in. You were so busy you didn't hear my knock, so I just took the liberty."
Mrs. Moran stirred, and turning feebly, looked at him, her eyes showing recognition.
"I am very glad to see you!" she whispered, as he advanced toward the bed, and she stretched out one of the feeble hands. "Sometimes I think that I am not long for this world. I should have died here, I feel sure, if it had not been for these girls. And your other friend, Miss Winnie, has been very good, too! I hope you are quite well, Mr. Merriwell!"
"Quite well! Don't let me disturb you. Inza was reading to you. Let her go on. I will sit here in this chair."
So Inza read again, until the old woman was tired; after which the trio left the house, and walked down to the car line, where they took a car for the residence of the Honorable Fairfax Lee.
"I went to Lee's to see you," Frank explained, "for I wanted to talk over some details of the trip to New London and the June races. The mascot of the crew hasn't been down to the boat-house this week. And I wanted to invite both of you, and Winnie, to the ball-game Saturday forenoon."
"I am sorry about Bart!" Inza exclaimed. "But he will come round all right, don't you think?"
"He may not play in this game, but he will see how foolish he is, and be heartily ashamed of it by and by."
"Who is to catch for you, then?"
"Jack Ready!"