The Marshland Mystery

happily.
    “I’ll break the news to them,” Regan said promptly. “But you’d better climb in and get started, before they arrive and begin making excuses about why they can’t do it!” He handed the basket of preserves to Trixie. “And don’t forget the present.”
    They hurriedly swarmed into the big car, and almost at once they were on their way. Gaye had been strangely silent since her one outburst. The girls began to feel uncomfortable as she stared out the car window.
    “What an adorable dog!” Di said, after a long silence. “May I pet him?”
    Gaye bit her lower lip. Then she nodded.
    Di stroked the fluffy white head and told Gaye what a darling he was. But Gaye looked accusingly at Trixie. “I guess you didn’t mean it when you said you liked Mr. Poo,” she said in a small, hurt voice. “You didn’t even say hello to him.”
    Trixie smiled. “I wanted to, but I wasn’t sure if he liked me. Those teeth look pretty sharp.”
    Gaye giggled and hugged her pet. Then she bent down and pretended to listen to something he was saying. When she lifted her head, she was smiling. “He says he wouldn’t think of biting you, because he wants you to be his friend.”
    Trixie patted the little dog’s back. “I’d love to, Mr. Poo,” she told him seriously, “and I’d like to be Gaye’s friend, too.”
    Gaye stared at her doubtfully, and they could all see that she wasn’t sure just what to say. Honey spoke promptly. “We’d all like to be your friends, Gaye. We think you’re just wonderful. I never heard anyone play the violin as beautifully as you do.”
    “It must be super to be so gifted,” Di sighed.
    But instead of seeming to enjoy the compliments, Gaye frowned and leaned back to stare out of the window steadily. A shadow seemed to come over her face.
    The girls exchanged puzzled looks. It seemed to all of them a strange way of acting when they had sincerely tried to compliment her.
    Di tried again. “Is it really true that you’ve played before kings and queens, Gaye?” she asked with awe.
    Gaye scowled and didn’t answer for a moment. Then she shrugged impatiently. “Oh, I guess so,” she said indifferently. “Aunt Della said they were. But they’re all just audiences. I play the same pieces for them as I do for the others. We stay in hotels and always keep traveling. Places are all the same, and so are audiences.” She gave a weary little sigh and slumped in her corner.
    Trixie felt a tug of sympathy, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. She was glad when Tom turned his head to warn them, with a grin, “Hold on, ladies! We’re about to go over the bumps!” And a moment later, they were all giggling and bouncing around in the car as it negotiated the narrow, rough road to Miss Rachel’s cottage.
    Miss Rachel was working in her flower garden as they drove up. She rose with a frown as the car stopped. But the frown disappeared when she recognized Trixie getting out. And she was most gracious as she invited the girls and the chauffeur to have a cup of mint tea.
    Tom refused hastily but politely. “I’ll just stay out here and wait for them, Miss Rachel. Only, don’t let them stay long and bother you.”
    “I’m sure they’ll be no bother,” she assured him. “Come along, children.”
    Honey, Trixie, and Di started in with her, but Gaye held back, the poodle in her arms. “I think I’ll stay here,” she said wistfully. “Mr. Poo doesn’t like me to leave him.”
    “But he’s very welcome, too, child,” Miss Rachel assured her. “We may even be able to find him a cookie.” They all trooped into the cottage, Trixie carrying the gift of preserves and Gaye holding the starched white dress. Miss Rachel gazed at the dress admiringly.
    “It’s done up beautifully, dear,” she told Gaye. “I’ll hang it carefully away, in case some other young lady wants to borrow it someday.”
    “It’s a very pretty dress, and I thank you,” Gaye said gravely, “and I’m sorry I was so upset yesterday.”
    “That’s all right, child. Just forget it, and let’s go put the kettle on for that good hot mint tea.”
    As Gaye and the poodle went cheerfully to the kitchen with Miss Rachel, the three Bob-Whites exchanged pleased looks.
    “She isn’t really such a little monster when you dig down, is she?” Honey asked Trixie, and Trixie had to admit that Honey was right.
     

Aftereffects ● 16
     
    WE ALMOST CAME to see you yesterday,” Trixie told Miss Rachel