After she had shown them how to ring the various bells to call the
maids or to call her, in emergency, and had drawn their attention to
the ice water in thermos bottles, and told them how to adjust the
ventilators, she bade them good-night and went away.

The rooms had a communicating door, and this Alicia promptly threw
open and came through into the two D's room.

"Oh, isn't it all the greatest fun! And did you EVER see anything so
crazy as Uncle Jeff? What he wants us here for, _I_ don't know! But
it's something,--and something especial. He never asked us here to
amuse him! Of that I'm certain."

"Not much he didn't!" and Bernice followed Alicia, and perched on the
edge of Dolly's bed. "Isn't he queer? I didn't know he was so funny as
he is. Did you, Alicia?"

"No; I haven't seen him since I was a tiny mite. But he's all right.
He knows what he's about and I don't wonder he doesn't want us
bothering around if he's busy."

"I'd love to see his collection," said Dolly. "I'm awfully interested
in such things."

"Oh, well, you'll probably have a chance to see it while we're here,"
and Alicia began taking down her hair. "Now, girls, let's get to bed,
for I'm jolly well tired out. But I foresee these poky evenings right
along, don't you? We'll have to cram a lot of fun into our days, if
the evenings are to be spent watching an elderly gentleman stalking