"No, rather not," Maud answered; "got out as far as an apple orchard, and it was awfully late. I'd no idea where the time went. I knew there must be a short cut, so I—"
"Never mind, we know that," Polly interrupted. "Did you sit down in the orchard?"
"As a matter of fact, I did; my snow shoe was loose. How did you know?"
"Were you dragging anything when you left the orchard?" Lois demanded.
"Yes, a branch of a tree; I say, I'm awfully sorry you had all that trouble of—"
"Did you see a man's hat by any chance, on your way to the bridge?" Betty asked.
"Yes." Maud was becoming more and more bewildered.
"What did you do when you got home?"
"Why, I hustled down to Roman Alley and took a tub. You see I was awfully late, and I knew that Miss—what's her name—Spartan would be no end cross if I didn't show up for the exam. I didn't want to miss it either; it was literature, you know."
"Where did you leave your snow shoes?"