“What was he, indeed?”
“I did not tell Isabel that I recognized him. I don’t know why, exactly, but I wanted to think about it. And then I have always hated to think about that night anyway. He was a perfect gentleman in his manner, too, such a relief from my first fright at the sight of him. But the scheme of Louise to get me away from the party so she could get in, and the queer meeting that she and her brother had evidently arranged, though he came too early, has made me feel that I wouldn’t like to be concerned in anything with them!”
“I don’t wonder. Don’t think about it, Betty. We’ll all go up together some time and see if there is anything strange about the cave, but we need not do any talking about it.”
“Isabel said she wouldn’t except to Avalon.”
“We have enough school work to do without unraveling any mysteries, but I must confess I am a little curious about it.”
CHAPTER X.
PLENTY OF TIME.
“What time is it, Hilary,—please?” Isabel peeped through a few inches of space as she held the door knob. Girls were not supposed to visit during study hours.
“Well,” said Hilary, laying down her pencil and looking over at the clock, “by the world’s regulator it is eight-thirty.”
“Why, no, Hilary,” protested Isabel, who had decided to enter and was now looking at the clock herself. “It’s eight-forty-five; can’t you count time?”
“That is where you are mistaken, Miss Hunt. We have a very remarkable clock. Subtract fifteen minutes and you have the time. What day is this, Lilian?”