A week passed and still Nancy guarded the bag, but in that time had neither seen Orilla nor heard from her. The girl’s promise to meet her at the lakeside, on the evening following that upon which she had imposed the trust upon Nancy, had not been kept. Nancy waited until dark, and even a little later than she felt comfortable, out there alone away from everyone, and at a considerable distance from the house; but Orilla did not come.

Nancy imagined many reasons for her failure to appear. Perhaps she had feared detection, as she had the person she suspected of being after her money. Or perhaps her mother was keeping watch. Mrs. Rigney had been around Fernlode almost daily in the past week, and more than once Nancy heard her talking to Margot, as if she were in distress.235 Orilla’s name was mentioned often, but Nancy knew nothing more than that.

Finally, it was Rosa who broke the spell. She burst in upon Nancy one morning before breakfast.

“Nancy!” she exclaimed, “I’m just worried to death about Orilla. There’s a reason why, but I just can’t explain, if you don’t mind. You’ve been such a dear, I perfectly hate to go at things this way again,” and Rosa’s face bore out that statement. “But if you’ll only trust me this once more—”

“Of course I trust you, Rosa—”

“I knew you would. Then don’t worry about me this morning. I’ve just got to go off and find her—”

“I’ll go with you.”

“If you don’t mind, dear, I’d rather go alone.”

“But I want to go, Rosa. I’m interested in finding her. In fact, I’ve got a reason—”

“Really! Are we both having secrets about Orilla? That would be funny if we weren’t so worried, wouldn’t it? But, Nancy, please236 let me find her and then I’ll tell you where she is. I hate to seem secretive but—well, I just have to this time.”

Nancy was baffled. Rosa was so positive in wanting to go off alone. And she, Nancy, was just as anxious to get in touch with Orilla. Why shouldn’t they both go together?

“Rosa,” she began again, “I’d love to tell you my secret, but you see I promised Orilla—”

“So did I,” interrupted Rosa, smiling in spite of herself. “And, you see, if we both went she would believe we both told.”

This sounded reasonable and Nancy hesitated. Rosa saw her chance and pressed it further.

“I’ll come back as quickly as I can,” she promised, “and then you can go talk to her.”

“But you haven’t had breakfast—”

“Yes, I have. I couldn’t rest. I got to fussing and I went downstairs before even Margot was around. Don’t worry about me, Nancy love,” begged Rosa, pressing her cousin’s hand impulsively. “I’ll take good237 care of myself this time, and I promise not to cut down a single tree.”

“But you are not going on the lake alone?”

“No; a friend is going to take me in her motor boat.”

“Not Dell, nor Gar?”

“No. But someone just as trustworthy. You know Katherine Walters you met last week at Durand’s? She’s a regular old sea captain on the lake, and runs a boat like one.”

“I saw her out the other day, in a big green launch—”

“The Cucumber. That’s her boat and that’s the one we’re going in.”

“Who else is going?” asked Nancy. “Why couldn’t I sit in the boat with Katherine—”

“If Orilla saw you along she would never believe me,” persisted Rosa, a little disconsolately.

“Don’t you think we are humoring her an awful lot, Rosa?” Nancy asked in a strained voice; she too was bothered.

“Well, I suppose I am; not you. But just this once. You see, Nancy, Orilla hasn’t238 much in life and she expected such a lot.”

“You’re good to her, Rosa, perhaps too good. But I hope you’re not making another mistake; you know how she influences you.”

“She couldn’t now, Coz. I’m not in need of her services. You see, my doctor is a resident. I have her with me all the time,” and again she flung her arms affectionately around Nancy.

There seemed nothing to do but agree, so after many admonitions from Nancy and promises from Rosa, the latter started off. She had arranged things with Margot so as to allay her suspicions, and when Rosa waved to Nancy from the green launch, called the Cucumber, Nancy sighed in spite of the beautiful morning and all other favorable circumstances.

Hours dragged by slowly. First Nancy wrote letters—it would soon be time for homecomings—then she drew a pen and ink sketch for Ted. She even finished the little handkerchief she was hemstitching for Manny, but yet there remained a full half hour before lunch time. And no sign of Rosa!

239 It might have been that Nancy had not yet gotten over that anxious search for Rosa, when she and the Durands final............