"Oh, it's a case of sink or swim—I've got to make it go!" she replied with her buoyant laugh. "If I don't succeed I can't emerge from the woods next fall and face my creditors!"
"There's the buried treasure; you mustn't neglect that! I'm greatly your debtor for all the interesting things you've told me. This has been the happiest evening I've spent since——"
"Since you began taking everything so hard? Please quit looking on your life as a burden; try to get some fun out of it!"
The door opened to the key she gave him and the light of the hall lamp fell upon her face and glinted her brown hair as she put out her hand.
"Don't forget me in the rush of things! And particularly don't forget that note of instructions. I'm counting on that!"
"Not really?" she exclaimed. "I was just in fun, you know."
"If I don't get it before I leave tomorrow evening, I shall be terribly disappointed. I shall take it as a sign that you don't think me worth bothering about!"
There was a pleading in his voice that held her for a moment; she surveyed him gravely, then answered lightly,
"Oh, very well! You shall have it, sir!"