"Peter!" Nancy lifted an imploring finger. "Honest, what did you say? And why——" she was suddenly abashed. He had done this for her.
Peter kept his tone light.
"You see I did have some pig business over that way, so it was easy enough to do a favor for a little pal at the same time. Hoffman was very nice—he's going to be around up here for some weeks and promised me he would drive over here. Now it's up to you to have the manuscript ready."
"Oh, Peter, I'm frightened! You're a darling! I shall always bless pigs! Of course I'll have it done—I'll work night and day. I'll go straight back to the house now." She jumped to the ground. In her haste she forgot the poor rose she had hidden behind her.
Peter, crestfallen at her sudden flight, found it, however. He smiled, whimsically, as he held it in the palm of his hand.
"Nice little kid," he said, as he had said once before, then he put the rose carefully into his pocket.
CHAPTER XVII
NANCY PLANS A PARTY
"What are you doing, Nonie?"