“Yes, but did she really mean it?”
“Why not find out?” Penny laughed, swinging open the car door.
Entering the grounds, the girls saw that very little had been done to the property since their last visit. A half-hearted attempt had been made to rake one side of the lawn and an overgrown lilac bush had been mercilessly mutilated. Shutters on the house remained closed and the entire place had a gloomy, deserted appearance.
Penny rapped on the door. Evidently Mrs. Marborough had noted the approach of the two girls for she responded to their knock immediately.
“Good afternoon,” Penny began, “we were driving by and thought we would drop in to see you again.”
“How nice of you,” Mrs. Marborough smiled. “Look over the garden as much as you please.”
“The garden—” Louise faltered, gazing quickly at Penny.
“Or make wishes at the well,” Mrs. Marborough went on hastily. “Go anywhere you like, and I’ll join you as soon as I get a wrap.”
The door closed gently in their faces.
“Who wants to see a tangle of weeds?” Louise demanded in a whisper. “Why didn’t Mrs. Marborough invite us into the house?”