"And then, when you stayed in the room, we made sure something terrible had happened and came after you," Nan said.
"Something terrible nearly did happen, both to your Aunt Emma and me," returned Jo, with a rueful smile.
"I know, and you can better believe Aunt Emma will hear the whole of it. You won't lose anything, Jo."
"Now, listen!" Jo said, alarmed. "If you are going to try to make me out a heroine or any silly thing like that, I'm going home right now——"
"Try to do it!" laughed Nan.
She had one of Jo's arms in hers, and at the words Sadie grasped the other.
"You are both bigger than I," said Jo, in her best tragedy-queen manner. "You know that I have no chance to escape, brutes that you are!"
The chums soon reached the Jamesons' gate, and as they pushed it open Mrs. Jameson herself came out of the house and beckoned to them.
Her face was alight with that same mysterious glow that the girls had noticed on Annie's countenance.
"Aunt Emma?" Nan queried anxiously. "Is she all right, Mrs. Jameson?"