"Oh, Mr. Bowman! If you would!"
"Oh, I will. I only wish we had your car. He may be unable to walk and then the neighbors will talk."
"It's got beyond worrying about what the neighbors say," said Janice wearily. "Now, wait. I must go and excuse myself to Mrs. Drugg. She must not suspect. Maybe it isn't as bad as you think and we'll get Hopewell home all right."
The storekeeper's wife had carried Lottie back to the sitting room.
The child was still asleep and 'Rill was undressing her.
"What is the matter, Janice?" she asked curiously. "Has Mr. Bowman gone? What did he want?"
"He didn't want to buy anything. He wanted to see me. I—I am going out with him a little while, Miss 'Rill."
The latter nodded her head knowingly. "I know," she said. "You are going across the street. I am glad Mr. Bowman feels an interest in Mr. Haley's affairs."
"Yes!" gasped Janice, feeling that she was perilously near an untruth, for she was allowing 'Rill to deceive herself.
"Will you put the window lamps out before you go, dear?" the storekeeper's wife said.
"Certainly," Janice answered, and proceeded to do so before putting on her coat and hat.