"I do not think so," said Hannah; "Juliet is by no means fond of Dora. I heard her call her a sneak only yesterday. No, if you ask me, I should say that most probably Juliet has been taking tea with her friend, Flossie Chalcombe."
"Oh no, Hannah," said Mrs. Tracy quickly; "Juliet would not go there."
Hannah made no reply, but smiled in a peculiar and exasperating manner. The subject was allowed to drop, but all three were feeling intensely curious as to how Juliet had passed the afternoon. That young lady did not appear to satisfy their curiosity.
As soon as tea was over, Salome went upstairs to get ready to go out. There was a committee meeting at the vestry that evening which she had promised to attend. On the first landing she paused, and, after a moment's hesitation, tapped on the closed door of the room Juliet shared with her mother.
"Come in!" rang out Juliet's voice, and Salome entered.
Juliet was seated on her little bed. She had not removed her hat, but it was thrust far back from the flossy curly mass of sunny hair above her forehead. Dusty shoes still covered the little feet, which she was swinging to and fro in undesirable proximity to the spotless counterpane.
Salome felt the natural irritation of an immaculate housewife who had recently sustained the burdens of a spring cleaning.
"Juliet, I wish you would not sit on your bed. It impossible to keep the counterpane clean if you do so."
"Oh, did you only come to say that?" Juliet's accents were provokingly cool.
Salome looked with angry disapproval at her flushed, excited face and saucy eyes.