Lydia wandered into the dining-room quite casually.
"For heaven's sake, Lydia!" cried Amos. "I was just going to start on a hunt for you!"
"I took a walk in the woods," explained Lydia, "and was gone longer than I realized."
"Supper's ready. Sit right down," said Lizzie, looking at Lydia, intently.
Amos was absorbed in his own thoughts during the meal. He and Kent had both been worried and absent minded, lately. He paid no heed to the fact that Lydia only played with her food and that during the meal she smiled at nothing. But old Lizzie, who had worried herself half sick over Lydia, watched her with growing curiosity.
"Seen Kent, to-day, Lydia?" she asked.
After a moment—"Did you speak to me, Lizzie?" Lydia inquired.
"Yes, I did. I asked if you'd seen Kent to-day."
"I? No, I haven't seen Kent. We had a quiz in chemistry, to-day."
"What's that got to do with anything?" grunted Lizzie. But she asked no more questions.