“Where have you been?” I inquired anxiously, as she passed me.
“Oh, having a walk on the meadow with those two delightful cats. I am going out again with them to-morrow evening,” and she looked mysterious.
“Serena!” I exclaimed. Then after a while, I asked her why she was going with those strangers.
For a long time, she would not tell me. She said it was a secret.
“Have you promised not to tell?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said she had.
“Then don't,” I replied, but then she wanted to, and at last whispered that she was going on a mole-hunt.
I was not much enlightened. However, I said nothing more at the time. I just worried in secret. Serena and Joker disappeared in the house in search of something to eat, and I coiled myself up again on the veranda, for by this time the sun was further up in the sky, and the air felt quite warm.
After a time, Mary and her mother came out. They both had on big sun hats, and they stood for a few minutes looking silently at the lovely view out through the maples. The Green Hills were soft and hazy in the distance, and near at hand were the fine shade trees, and the shock-headed pink and white apple-trees.
“Glorious,” murmured Mrs. Denville, “too glorious to linger indoors. Come, Mary, let us go over the farm.”