"My goodness! What is it—a junk wagon? Look at that horse, will you! Say! who's these folks? What a pair of old dubs!"
Cap'n Ira and Prudence had returned somewhat earlier than Sheila had expected. Old Queenie came up the lane and turned in at the open gateway beyond the garden.
The new girl tugged excitedly at Sheila's arm.
"Say! Who are they?" she demanded huskily.
"This is Cap'n Ball and Mrs. Ball," was the reply, and the girl in possession hurried forward to help them out of the carriage.
"Ahoy, Ida May!" the captain hailed cheerfully. "What's the good word?"
He prepared to climb down. The girl assisted Prudence first.
"Who's that with you, Ida May?" asked the old woman. Then, with keener eyes than the captain, she observed the change in the girl's face. "What's happened? Something has gone wrong, Ida May, I know. What is it?"
"That—that girl—"
Sheila almost choked. How could she prevaricate to the good old woman who had been so kind to her?