"Nothing.... Yes, there is something. I opened the front door and let a
strange boy and girl in to play with us, and I've just been fighting
with him, and we were having such good times--I--" his voice broke--"I
can't bear to have them go--so soon----"

Kathleen looked at him for a moment, speechless with consternation.
Then:

"Where are they, Scott?"

"In the--the hedge."

"Out _there_?"

"Yes."

"_Who_ are they?"

"Their names are Duane Mallett and Naïda Mallett. We got them to run
away from their nurse. Duane's such a bully fellow." A sob choked him.

"Come with me at once," said Kathleen.

Behind the rhododendrons smiling peace was extending its pinions; Duane
had produced a pocketful of jack-stones, and the three children were now
seated on the grass, Naïda manipulating the jacks with soiled but deft
fingers.

Duane was saying to Geraldine: