"Elizabeth Herrick.
"P. S.—Please do not try to find me. I am with friends. P. S. number two.—I hope you won't mind my going very much."
This done, she continued her way down stairs, out of the front door, and around to the home of the Brady family.
Eva Louise and Bella were playing the inevitable jack-stones on their own door-step when Elizabeth appeared. They looked up, but continued their game.
"How do you do?" said Elizabeth.
"Holloa! I say, Eva Louise, that ain't no fair. Them's mine."
"'Tain't, neither. Yer a reg'lar cheat, Bella Brady! I'm a-goin' to tell pop, an' I ain't a-goin' to play with yer another minute."
Elizabeth, fearing that slaps were imminent, hastened to interpose.
"I want to ask you something, Eva Louise. Is your mother at home?"
"Is that all yer want to ask? Well, I guess she is. I say, Bella—"