“Really! Are we both having secrets about Orilla? That would be funny if we weren’t so worried, wouldn’t it? But, Nancy, please let me find her and then I’ll tell you where she is. I hate to seem secretive but—well, I just have to this time.”
Nancy was baffled. Rosa was so positive in wanting to go off alone. And she, Nancy, was just as anxious to get in touch with Orilla. Why shouldn’t they both go together?
“Rosa,” she began again, “I’d love to tell you my secret, but you see I promised Orilla—”
“So did I,” interrupted Rosa, smiling in spite of herself. “And, you see, if we both went she would believe we both told.”
This sounded reasonable and Nancy hesitated. Rosa saw her chance and pressed it further.
“I’ll come back as quickly as I can,” she promised, “and then you can go talk to her.”
“But you haven’t had breakfast—”
“Yes, I have. I couldn’t rest. I got to fussing and I went downstairs before even Margot was around. Don’t worry about me, Nancy love,” begged Rosa, pressing her cousin’s hand impulsively. “I’ll take good care of myself this time, and I promise not to cut down a single tree.”
“But you are not going on the lake alone?”
“No; a friend is going to take me in her motor boat.”