“No, Nannie,” said Patty, gently. “This is my picnic, and I shall conduct it in my own way. And I won’t telephone Mr. Hepworth, if I have to send the answers with one missing.”
And then the telephone bell rang!
And it was Mr. Hepworth calling.
“I’ve guessed it!” he said, breathlessly, but triumphant. “But it’s rather complicated, and I can’t explain it very well over the telephone. I’ll come right over. Is there time?”
“Yes,” returned Patty; “come on. Good-bye.”
She hung up the receiver, and turned to Nan with an “I told you so” expression on her face.
“But it was a narrow escape,” said Nan.
“Not at all,” said Patty.
Then Mr. Hepworth came.
He looked calm and smiling as ever, and showed no trace of his sleepless night and anxious hard-working day.