This was fortunate for Miss Desmond, who wished to talk of nothing else. The piano had arrived in perfect condition. "But I don't know where the poor thing hasn't been, on the way," said the girl. "It left Boston fully two weeks ago, and it seems to have been wandering round to the ends of the earth ever since. The first of last week, I heard from it at Kent Harbor, of all places! I got a long despatch from there, from some unknown female, telling me it had broken down on the way to Burymouth, and been sent by mistake to Kent Harbor from Mewers Junction. Have you ever been at Kent Harbor, Mr. Gaites?"
"Oh, yes," said Gaites. This was the moment to come out with the history of his relation to the piano; but he waited.
"And can you tell me whether they happen to have a female freight agent there?"
"Not to my knowledge," said Gaites, with a mystical smile.
"Then do you know anybody there by the name of Elaine W. Maze?"
"Mrs. Maze? Yes, I know Mrs. Maze. She has a cottage, there."
"And can you tell me why Mrs. Maze should be telegraphing me about my piano?"
There was a note of resentment in Miss Desmond's voice, and it silenced the laughing explanation which Gaites had almost upon his tongue. He fell very grave in answering, "I can't, indeed, Miss Desmond."
"Perhaps she found out that it had been a long time on the way, and did it out of pure good-nature, to relieve your anxiety."
This was what Miss Axewright conjectured, but it seemed to confirm Miss Desmond's worst suspicions.