“Last time we saw her she was first class, thank you.”
“She may be having high-sterics now, however,” added Mr. Alexander, chucklingly.
“What do you mean? Isn’t she well?” asked Mrs. Fabian.
“We hope she is well, Mrs. Fabian, but we left her at Osgood Hall, while we eloped to Paris,” laughed Dodo.
“Eloped! What are you talking about, child?” demanded Mrs. Fabian, while the girls sat up, eager to hear a story.
“Pa and I just had to elope, you know, to save our lives. We waited until Ma got nicely settled with the family, then we got in the car and ran away. We haven’t heard, yet, in answer to our telegram from here, so we’re frightened to pieces lest Ma packs up and comes after us,” explained Dodo.
But this fear was quieted when they all went into the hotel and the clerk handed Mr. Alexander a message. He opened it with trembling fingers, and suddenly sat down in a great chair.
“Goodness me, Pa! What is it? Is she coming for us?” cried Dodo, in an agony of suspense.
“No—that’s why I caved in, Dodo. The relief was so turrible!” sighed the little man.
Everyone felt sorry for these two, but the situation was so funny that they laughed in spite of their trying not to.