Once on the train, and out among strangers, Dorothy felt as if all eyes were upon Urania. Was her disguise really good? Might some one know her from the published descriptions, that had appeared in the newspaper from North Birchland?
“Now, you must not talk aloud,” she whispered to Urania. “Someone might suspect, and listen to our conversation.”
Of course, Miette was all excited over her own affair. Would she really see Marie? she asked Dorothy, and when did Dorothy think her aunt would take them to New York?
Dorothy found it difficult to take care of the two girls. She was so anxious about Urania she could scarcely keep up with Miette’s questions. Urania in turn settled down rather awkwardly in her new outfit. She wanted to remove the big stiff hat, but Dorothy said she should not. Then she insisted on taking off the thin silk gloves, and Dorothy warned her to keep her hands well down in her lap, as they were very brown, and rather “suspicious” looking.
A woman opposite attempted to get into conversation with Urania, but Dorothy felt obliged to take the gypsy down the aisle for a drink of water, in order to have a chance to tell her she positively must not talk to strangers.
They had to change cars at another junction. Dorothy wanted to go out of the train both first and last, but with human limitations she was obliged to be content with leading the way for her two charges.
A wait of fifteen minutes in the little way station added to Dorothy’s discomfort. Urania must not talk to the station agent—why did every one speak to her? Was she too attractive?
The task Dorothy had undertaken now seemed more and more difficult. If she only could get on the train for North Birchland safely! But there would be one more change, at Beechville. There was a strange man waiting in the station. He got on the train at Glenville, and seemed interested in the three girls. Perhaps Dorothy only imagined it, but he certainly was watching them.
He took a seat in the North Birchland car directly opposite Dorothy and Urania (Miette occupied a separate seat), Dorothy was plainly nervous, and she handed Urania a book and whispered to her to pretend to be reading it.
The man finally spoke to Dorothy.