But whatever Mrs. Cressler had to tell Laura, she evidently was
determined to save for her ears only. Arrived at the Dearborns'
home, she sent her footman in to tell the "girl" that the family
would not be home that night. The Cresslers lived hard by on the
same street, and within ten minutes' walk of the Dearborns. The two
sisters and their aunt would be back immediately after breakfast.

When they had got home with Mrs. Cressler, this latter suggested hot
tea and sandwiches in the library, for the ride had been cold. But
the others, worn out, declared for bed as soon as Mrs. Cressler
herself had dined.

"Oh, bless you, Carrie," said Aunt Wess'; "I couldn't think of tea.
My back is just about broken, and I'm going straight to my bed."

Mrs. Cressler showed them to their rooms. Page and Mrs. Wessels
elected to sleep together, and once the door had closed upon them
the little girl unburdened herself.

"I suppose Laura thinks it's all right, running off like this for
the whole blessed night, and no one to look after the house but
those two servants that nobody knows anything about. As though there
weren't heaven knows what all to tend to there in the morning. I
just don't see," she exclaimed decisively, "how we're going to get
settled at all. That Landry Court! My goodness, he's more hindrance
than help. Did you ever see! He just dashes in as though he were
doing it all, and messes everything up, and loses things, and gets
things into the wrong place, and forgets this and that, and then he
and Laura sit down and spoon. I never saw anything like it. First