"Never mind," whispered Dorothy, "perhaps you will find it in your
jacket. I am sure she only said good-bye; there could not have been
anything so very important in it."

"But if any of the others should get it," he sighed. "They could find
out where she went, and she most particularly wanted to hide for a few
days."

"Hide!"

"Yes, she told me she was sure Sarah would wake up in a few days and
make a 'clean breast of it.' Tavia declared she had done nothing wrong
herself, and that she was not afraid of anybody, but, she said, there
was going to be trouble, and she never ran into trouble when she could
run the other way."

"Well, dear," said the sister, "you had better go to bed now. I am so
tired and I feel a little like sleeping. If you find the note, bring it
to me in the morning; if you do not find it, there is no need to worry.
Tavia will be back to see me as soon as she hears I am sick," and,
giving the boy a good night kiss, Dorothy closed her eyes, while Joe
crept out of the room as noiselessly as he had entered it.




CHAPTER X

APPLE BLOSSOM MAGIC