few seconds later. The twins were bending earnestly over their Latin
grammars by the side of the kitchen fire, and did not raise their eyes
as the Seeker burst into the room. Constance sat down, and gasped and
quivered for a while. Then she looked down complacently at the little
black bow with its smudge of red ink, and sighed contentedly.

The week that followed was a gala one for the twins of Skull and
Crossbones. Constance swept their room, made their bed, washed their
dishes, did their chores, and in every way behaved as a model pledge of
the Ancient and Honorable. The twins were gracious but firm. There
was no arguing, and no faltering. "It is the will of Skull and
Crossbones that the damsel do this," they would say. And the damsel
did it.

Prudence did not feel it was a case that called for her interference.
So she sat back and watched, while the twins told stories, read and
frolicked, and Constance did their daily tasks.

So eight days passed, and then came Waterloo. Constance returned home
after an errand downtown, and in her hand she carried a great golden
pear. Perhaps Constance would have preferred that she escape the
notice of the twins on this occasion, but as luck would have it, she
passed Carol in the hall.

"Gracious! What a pear! Where did you get it?" demanded Carol
covetously.

"I met Mr. Arnold down-town, and he bought it for me. He's very fond
of me. It cost him a dime, too, for just this one. Isn't it a
beauty?" And Connie licked her lips suggestively.