"Am I?" She tried to speak naturally, but suspicious Peace detected the strained note in her voice, and demanded, "Were you kept after school?"
"Yes,—no,—not really school."
"What do you mean by that? Cherry's been home for more'n half an hour."
"That long?" Allee's amazement was too genuine to doubt.
"Yes, and you said you'd come home the minute school was out so's we could finish that puzzle and send it off."
"I didn't mean to stay so long. It seemed only a minute, Peace, truly." Allee was deeply penitent.
"Where have you been? To see Miss Edith?"
"No—o—"
"And what's that you are hiding under your apron? Allee Greenfield, you've got a secret from me!" cried Peace, much aggrieved.