"Where have you been? Why didn't you come before?" asked the girl, as she rose at f.a.n.n.y's approach.

"I couldn't come before," replied f.a.n.n.y.

"Why not?" demanded the other, whose name was Kate Magner.

"No matter why not," answered f.a.n.n.y, rather testily, for she was not yet quite willing to confess what she had done in the library of the mansion-house.

"Haven't the folks gone away?"

"Yes; they all went off in the morning train. Where is Tom?"

"I don't know."

"But we want him; we can't get along without him."

"He said he would come."

"But he is late."

"So are you."

"I couldn't help it."

"I suppose he can't, either. But what are we going to do, Fan?" asked Kate, who did not seem to be satisfied with the present prospect of the enterprise, whatever it was.

"We are going to have a good time."

"You said that before; but I want to know what we are going to do. You asked me to meet you here at half past eight. You come at nine, and I don't see that anything is to be done. I shall catch it for playing truant from school, and all for nothing."

"You shall have the best time you have had in your life."

"I don't know about that. Why don't you tell me what you mean to do?"

"I am almost afraid to tell you, Kate."

"Afraid of what?"

"I'm afraid you won't dare to go with me."

"Did you ever do anything I was afraid to do?" said Kate, with a sneer.

"But this is a greater thing than we ever did before. We may be gone a long time, and we are certain to be found out."

"What do you mean?" demanded Kate, apparently appalled by this frank statement of the difficulties of the enterprise.

"I thought it would scare you," laughed f.a.n.n.y.

"But it don't scare me."

"Yes, it does."

"I will do anything that you dare to do," replied Kate, stung by the flings of her companion.

"You shall have the greatest time that ever was, but you must take the consequences after it is all over."

"If you can, I can."

"Come with me, then," continued f.a.n.n.y, as she moved along the bank of the river towards the Woodville landing pier.

"I won't go a step till I know what you are going to do."

"I'm afraid you will back out."

"No, I won't; I solemnly promise you that I will go with you anywhere you please."

"I have got some money," added f.a.n.n.y, in a very mysterious manner.

"How much?"

"Two dollars."

"Pooh! that ain't much!" sneered Kate.

"Well, I've got five dollars."

"Have you?"

"Yes."

"Where did you get it?"

"I found it."

"Where?"

"On the floor."

Kate probably had her doubts in regard to the finding of the money, but she did not ask any troublesome questions, and repressed whatever of righteous indignation might have risen in her soul.

"What are you going to do with it?" she asked.

"We will have a good time with it."

"But where are you going?"

f.a.n.n.y glanced at her companion, and hesitated to reveal the brilliant project, fearful that it might be disapproved.

"We will go over to Whitestone, or down to Pennville, and buy something. But where is Tom? We must have him."