meet," she said.

It happened that Rose and Polly were walking down the avenue, on the
way to Sherwood Hall, just as Gwen Harcourt gave up chasing Gyp.

"Hello!" she cried, "I wondered when you'd come to Avondale to live.
How long have you been here?"

"Two weeks," said Rose.

"Why didn't you let me know? I'd have been over to see you long before
this," Gwen replied.

Polly looked at Rose. She knew that Rose was not at all fond of Gwen,
and wondered what reply she would make.

Rose did not have to answer, for Gwen continued:

"Sit down on this wall, and I'll tell you a story. I'll come over to
your house some day this week, but now listen, while we sit here. It's
a story I read yesterday, 'bout a house that had a secret closet, and
ours has one, do you hear?" She leaned forward and pointed her ringer,
first at Polly, then at Rose.

"_Our_ house has a secret closet. Don't you both wish yours had?"

"Why, Gwen Harcourt! What could we do with secret closets?" said Rose.

"The girl in the story I read was locked into the closet by mistake,
and she couldn't get out!" said Gwen, looking quite as excited as if