“I should say not! Let’s inspect the wishing well.”
Penny started forward, taking pains to avoid a patch of light which came from the lower windows of the Marborough house. Even in the semi-darkness the girls were able to see that many flagstones about the well had been removed and fitted again into place.
“Just for luck I shall make a wish!” Penny announced unexpectedly, lowering the bucket into the pit.
“What will it be this time?” Louise inquired, slightly amused.
Penny drank deeply of the cool, sweet water, and tossed a token into the well.
“I wish that Rose Acres would give us a whopping big mystery!” she said gaily. “Lou, why did Mrs. Marborough return to Riverview after being away so many years?”
“This is her ancestral home.”
“True, but didn’t she tell us that whether or not she remains here depends upon certain conditions? Lou, she must have had a very special reason for coming, and it may be connected with this wishing well! We ought to find out about it!”
“Why?”
“Why?” Penny fairly wailed. “Oh, Lou, at times you’re the most exasperating person. Here we are face to face with something baffling, and you wonder why we should interest ourselves in it!”