Holding the book in both hands, Bee let go of it with her right and started to turn the first leaf. As she did so a folded paper slid from the back of the book to the floor.
Patsy made a quick dive for it and picked it up with: “It’s a letter, I guess. Shall we look at it first or go on with the diary?”
“Let’s not look at either, just yet. Let’s call the folks in here and read the diary and the letter when we’re all together,” proposed Bee generously. “It will be more fun. They’ll be awfully surprised to see the secret drawer; Mab especially.”
“All right,” amiably agreed Patsy. “You go for Mab, Eleanor and Dolores. I’ll see if Auntie has had her nap and is awake. If she’s sleeping I won’t disturb her. We may find nothing very interesting, after all, in this old diary. Anyhow we can show it to her afterward.”
Carefully laying letter and diary on the table from which both had emanated, the two Wayfarers sped from the room on their respective errands.
Patsy returned first and without her aunt. Finding Miss Martha sleeping peacefully, she had foreborne to disturb her.
When Beatrice presently appeared in company with the three others, they found Patsy busily examining the secret drawer which still stood open.
“You were on the wrong trail, Mab,” she laughingly greeted. “Bee beat you to it after all.”
“So I hear. Lets see your wonderful find.”
The newcomers crowded about the drawer, exclaiming over it, girl fashion. They were also duly impressed by the sheepskin book and the letter which, Patsy informed them, had been tucked away in the drawer. Mabel, however, was more interested in the drawer itself.