"It will not take one moment." said Elfrida. "I shall be home in half an hour; it will take me five seconds to scribble a note, and twenty minutes after that I shall be free again. Free as air!"
"I hope you are in earnest—that you mean it," said Agatha gravely, "because he may make an unpleasantness about it."
"Ah, I'm so afraid he won't," said Elfrida.
Dicky Browne, coming up at this moment with Dillwyn, heard her and understood.
"It was a great run," said Mr. Browne, "and full of pluck—on one side. I'm glad I was in at the death."
He sank upon the mossy bank next to Elfrida, whilst Dillwyn gladly accepted the opportunity to get beside Agatha. Agatha decidedly had the best of it. Mr. Browne was bent on teasing.
"I could see you looking on," said he to Elfrida. "You clapped, didn't you?"
"No," said Elfrida.
Her brows contracted. She felt so sorry for herself.
"Ah, you should," said Mr. Browne; "such a splendid performance. Pit and gallery rose to it."