"Nat! Nat!" called Tavia from the front door. "Take me! Wait a moment!"
She had her things on and was out instantly.
"Oh, I'm just scared to death!" she exclaimed as she climbed into the seat beside Nat. "Good-by!" she called up to the window. And then they were off.
"Neat little job," exclaimed Nat. "Didn't they ask you where?"
"I didn't give them a chance. I just stammered something about a package at the post-office. But, Nat, it is such mean work! I can't bear to deceive Dorothy!" and Tavia felt dangerously like crying.
"And do you fool yourself that you are deceiving her?" asked the cousin. "I'll bet she comes pretty near guessing it all, and for my part I cannot see why you do not up and tell her. It is no great crime to——"
"Oh, please, don't, Nat!" begged the girl. "It's bad enough, goodness knows, but don't let's go over it again."
"The Griswold is quite a swell place," remarked Nat. "She must either have money, or make money, to put up there."
"And I feel that she put that ring in Dorothy's bag. Oh, perhaps she is only trying to get me into some other trouble."
"Well, don't get," advised Nat. "I'll be outside within call, and if you get suspicious just raise your finger and I'll be Johnnie on the spot."