"It's Mrs. Brown," he said, evidently speaking to his wife in the room
behind him.

"I have been intending to come over to see you," went on Mrs. Brown.
"But you know how it is I suppose, Mrs. Ward," for now the other lady
had come to the window. "We keep putting such things off. And really I
have been so busy since we came back from our camp in the big woods that
I haven't had time to set my house to rights."

"I know how it is, Mrs. Brown," replied Mrs. Ward, wiping the tears from
her eyes, "and I am glad to see you now. Won't you come in?"

"I really don't know whether I ought to or not. My children, on coming
home from school, said they heard sounds of distress in here, and
knowing you were strangers I thought perhaps you might not know where to
apply for help in case you needed it. My husband is one of the town
officials, and if we can do anything----"

"It is very kind of you," said Mrs. Ward. "Thank you so much for coming
over. We _are_ in trouble, and perhaps you can give us some advice.
Please come in."

She went to the front door and let in Bunny, Sue and their mother, the
two children wondering what could have happened to the boy next door,
for they did not see him, and it seemed the trouble was about him.

"It won't take long to tell you what has happened," said Mrs. Ward,
placing chairs for Mrs. Brown and the two children. "Our boy Fred has
run away from home!"