"Never, my dear, I am sure Daphne's suspicions are unjust." Auntie Mogs laughed. "But I must hurry away or I will be late and that's one thing my children can't forgive. Poor darlings, they have so few outings that they hate to waste a minute of their precious time."
"Why don't you take them to the zoo?" Phyllis spoke for the first time, her voice sounded very tired but she smiled. "They'd like it a heap better than the museum."
"No, dear, I think you're wrong. They are all very anxious to see the pictures," Auntie Mogs replied, "but perhaps we'll stop in for a minute to see your beautiful Akbar on our way home."
She left them and hurried off, and again an unhappy silence fell upon them as they finished their luncheon.
"Let's go up to the snuggery," Janet suggested; "we don't have to help Lucy for hours yet."
They climbed the stairs, followed by Boru and Galahad, and finally settled themselves comfortably in the little room.
"Let's do our math," Sally suggested. "It's awfully hard. Taffy, you can help us."
They pulled out the table and were soon at work. Phyllis tried to keep her mind on the problems before her, but her eyes wandered to the window where she could see that the shade across the yard was still pulled down. She welcomed Annie's interruption a few minutes later.
"Please, miss," she said, "Lucy finds that there is no chocolate in the house, so will you please telephone for some and tell them to bring it over right away."
"No, I'll go for it instead, Annie." Phyllis jumped up, glad of an excuse to be alone.