Fifteen minutes later, in dressing gown and cap, she pushed aside the curtain into the aisle and crept out, 66 meaning to steal a march on the others. She let the curtain fall with a little gasp of astonishment, for as she looked, two other curtains moved stealthily, animated by unseen hands, and two heads popped simultaneously into the aisle. Jessie and Evelyn looked at each other, then at Lucile, vacantly at first, and then, as the truth dawned upon them, they began to laugh.
“Oh,” gasped Lucile, “I thought I was the only one awake, and here you two come along and spoil my well-laid plans.”
| “The well-laid plans of mice and men Aft gang agley,” |
quoted Jessie.
“Stop spouting poetry before breakfast,” commanded Evelyn. “You might wait until I get strength to bear it.”
“There she goes! First thing in the morning, too,” said Jessie, despairingly.
Lucile laughed, and, taking each disputant by an arm, hurried them along the aisle.
“May I ask our destination?” queried Jessie, with the utmost politeness.
“Certainly,” Lucile agreed, cheerfully, and then, as no further explanation seemed forthcoming, Jessie added, with an air of indefinite patience, “Well?”
“Go ahead, ask all the questions you like,” said Lucile, with a twinkle in her eye. “I’m not going to answer them, though,” and, with a little laugh, she pushed her before her into a little room at the farther end of the car.