"What brings Dr. Hollingsworth here?" Dr. Barnes asked, meeting Colonel Parton in the bank. "He is a friend of the Whittredges, I understand. Anyway, it is a compliment to Friendship."
"Friendship is a great place. He liked our looks when he was here a month or so ago," and the colonel laughed his easy laugh.
"More than likely he thinks we need a little stirring up," Mr. Roberts remarked from his desk.
"Did you hear the joke on my Belle?" the colonel asked, and proceeded to relate the story of the supposed detective and the photograph.
The Arden Foresters in their turn talked it over that afternoon, sitting in a row near the red oak, which lavished badges of crimson and gold upon them now. The October air was delicious. They had raced up the hill and down to the landing and back again, for pure joy of moving in the sparkling atmosphere.
"I have something to tell you," Rosalind announced. "You must all come to church next Sunday, for our president is going to preach."
"Is that what you have to tell? because I knew it already," said Belle, whose cheeks matched the oak leaf she was pinning on her jacket.
"No, it is something even better than that. I have a letter to read to you." As she spoke, Rosalind tossed a handful of leaves at Maurice.
"That's right, wake the professor up," cried Jack, following her example.
"Or bury him," said Belle, joining the onslaught.