"This is Neale's uncle, Mrs. MacCall," she said. "Neale doesn't know he is here yet; but Ruthie has asked him to stay to supper——"
"With your permission, ma'am," said Mr. Sorber, with another flourish of his hat.
"Oh, to be sure," agreed the housekeeper.
"And Neale runned away from a circus when he came here," said the round-eyed Dot.
"No!" gasped the housekeeper.
"Yes, Mrs. MacCall," Tess hurried on to say. "And he used to be a clown, and an acrobat, and——"
"And a lion in a Daniel's den!" interposed Dot, afraid that Tess would tell it all. "Did you ever?"
And Mrs. MacCall was sure she never had!
Meanwhile Ruth and Agnes had run their separate ways. It was Agnes who was fortunate in meeting the carriage driven by Neale O'Neil. The boy was alone, and the moment he saw the panting girl he drew in his horses. He knew something of moment had happened.
"What's brought you 'way out here, Aggie?" he demanded, turning the wheel so that she might climb in beside him. His passengers had been left in the country and he was to drive back for them late in the evening.