After a while Mrs. Cressler began to talk to Laura in a low voice. She and Charlie were going to spend a part of June at Oconomowoc, in Wisconsin. Why could not Laura make up her mind to come with them? She had asked Laura a dozen times already, but couldn’t get a yes or no answer from her. What was the reason she could not decide? Didn’t she think she would have a good time?

“Page can go,” said Laura. “I would like to have you take her. But as for me, I don’t know. My plans are so unsettled this summer.” She broke off suddenly. “Oh, now, that I think of it, I want to borrow your Idylls of the King . May I take it for a day or two? I’ll run in and get it now,” she added as she rose. “I know just where to find it. No, please sit still, Mr. Cressler. I’ll go.”

And with the words she disappeared in doors, leaving Mrs. Cressler to murmur to her husband: