"Miriam and Elfreda are not going with us, you know," said Grace as they were about to leave their room.
"I didn't know it," commented Anne. "Why did they change their minds?"
"Miriam thinks you and I can do more toward restoring peace without her and Elfreda. She suspects that Ruth will satisfy Arline's curiosity and at the same time appease her wrath by telling what she refused to tell that other night, provided there are not too many listeners."
"What a wise girl Miriam is!" exclaimed Anne admiringly. "I never thought of that."
"Nor I," admitted Grace, "until she mentioned it. Then I saw the wisdom of it."
"Where are we to meet Ruth and Arline?" asked Anne. "Suppose both of them arrive at Vinton's before we do?"
"I thought of that, too," chuckled Grace, "so Arline is to come here, and Ruth is to wait for us at Vinton's. They can't possibly meet until we are there to manage matters. Arline ought to be here by this time. Shall we go downstairs and wait for her?"
"There's the door bell now," said Anne. "That must be Arline."
Her supposition proved correct. Just as they reached the foot of the stairs the maid admitted the fluffy-haired little girl.
"Hello!" she called merrily. "I'm strictly on time, you see."