“Not if you’ll lend me a night robe. No one at home pays any attention to my wanderings, so I shall not be missed.”
They soon arrived at Judge Ferguson’s comfortable residence, which was a little beyond the outskirts of the village and delightfully situated on a slight eminence. Mrs. Ferguson, an alert, pleasant-faced little woman, welcomed the girls cordially and they passed the evening chatting together and discussing recent events in which all were alike interested. Phœbe was a bit distrait, for she could not help wondering what was happening in her room at home, where Toby Clark was keeping watch over the movements of old Elaine; but no one appeared to notice her abstraction.
Later in the evening the judge came in, and smiled cheerily upon the three young girls.
“You’ve quite a house-party to-night, Janet,” he said. “I wish you might keep this bevy with you for a month.”
Neither by glance nor word did he remind Phœbe of their conversation of the afternoon, and when they prepared to go upstairs he kissed all three impartially.
“What, to bed already?” he cried. “But run along and get your beauty sleep. Why should you wish to sit up with an old fossil like me?”
“Who has deserted us nearly the whole evening,” pouted Janet.
“True; I am to blame,” he admitted. “But a lawyer is never his own master, and to-night business kept me in the town.”
Phœbe thought she knew what had occupied him, but said nothing.
In their rooms the girls sat and discussed their plans, waiting for the judge and Mrs. Ferguson to get to bed and for the arrival of the hour when they might venture forth. It was demure little Janet who suggested they all wear sheets on their midnight stroll.