Dr. Raymond held the library door open for them to enter, then closed it, and faced them.
"When have either of you been to see old Rachel?" he asked abruptly.
"Adele went this morning," spoke Bee quickly, glad now that she had insisted upon the visit being made.
"Indeed? How was the old woman, Adele?"
"Why, why, all right! That is—about as she always is," stammered Adele changing color.
"Adele! Adele!" Her uncle spoke more in sorrow than in anger. "If you went to Rachel's, how came this to be hidden in the hedge?"
He crossed to his desk, and uncovered the identical basket that Bee had fixed for her cousin to take to Rachel. Adele gave an exclamation, but recovered herself almost instantly.
"You see, uncle," she said, trying to speak carelessly, "it was this way: It was so hot when I started and so near noon that I thought I would not have time to get back for lunch, so I put the basket there intending to run down with it when it was cooler."
"Were you there yesterday?" demanded her uncle receiving the explanation without comment.
Adele hesitated.