It was not five minutes after the two parted at the corner before Hal Harling came leaping up the McGregors' stairway and gave a loud knock at their door.
"Oh, you old tight-jaw!" announced he, when on entering, he beheld Carl grinning at him from across the room. "You might have put me out of my misery."
The boy laughed.
"It wasn't my secret! I'd have been a cur to butt in on Louise's fun."
"So you would!"
Quietly Mrs. McGregor glanced up from the sea of delicate blue gauze foaming about her.
"A ready tongue is a gift of silver, but a silent one is a treasure of pure gold," observed she quaintly.
CHAPTER VII
THE COMING OF THE FAIRY GODMOTHER