A little before six Miss Kezia came into the Stronghold. Denis whisked Jim behind him, and faced her serenely.
"Molly, I wish to know if it is to you I am indebted for—these?"
She held out a pair of large, flat, square-toed shoes, and pointed majestically to two frivolous-looking little bows on their toes.
Molly grew scarlet.
"Y-yes, Aunt Kezia! I—I—"
"I thought so. I should like to know why my property is never to be safe from you?"
"I—I saw—I saw there had been bows—and I—I made fresh ones—"
"Yes. I picked the bows off myself. I object to them." She stared at Molly with a puzzled frown. "You are a very peculiar girl," she said, and left the room.
"I took hours sewing them on!" wailed the discomfited Molly to an unsympathetic and much-amused audience.
"I believe our dear aunt thinks you're a bit wanting," declared Denis, tapping his brow.