The secret of the Mansion

seen the one I had before Miss Trask came. She was Mother’s secretary, too, because, of course, when I was away from home, there was nothing else for her to do. Mother liked her, but I couldn’t stand her near me."
    "What was the matter with her?" Trixie asked. "Oh, everything." Honey sat bolt upright in bed. "I can’t sleep with all that moonlight pouring through the windows, but it’s too hot to pull down the shades. Stay awake, Trixie, and I’ll tell you about Miss Lefferts."
    "Okay." Trixie suppressed a yawn and tried to prop her eyelids open. "What about Miss Lefferts?"
    "Why, she was about six feet tall and she must have weighed two hundred pounds." Honey giggled.
    And yet she never made a sound when she walked. She was always sneaking up behind me and asking me if I d done my piano lessons or embroidering or letter writing. She almost drove me crazy. She was the one who bought all those silly clothes in my closets and bureau drawers. She simply couldn’t resist anything with lace and ruffles on it. Wouldn’t she have a fit if she saw me in dungarees?"
    "She sounds like something out of a book," Trixie said, between a yawn and a laugh. "I’ll have a nightmare myself if you keep on talking about her. How did you happen to get rid of her?"
    "That’s the funny part of it," Honey said thoughtfully. "And I guess it proves you’re right about me and my mother. When they brought me home from the school infirmary, there was Miss Leiferts waiting for me, armed to the teeth with all sorts of deadly dull projects which I could do in bed. I took one look at her and burst into tears."
    "I should think you would have," Trixie said sympathetically. "Then what?"
    "Why, then," Honey went on, "Daddy and Mother got awfully upset and asked me what was the matter. I couldn’t stop crying, but finally I began to talk about Miss Trask and how much I liked her. She was the math instructor at school, and we got to be friendly, because I’m not very good at algebra and needed special tutoring. She told me how she had to support an invalid sister, and I knew Daddy paid Miss Lefferts much more than the school paid Miss Trask. Anyway, I never saw Miss Lefferts again, and when school closed at the end of May, Miss Trask arrived to be my new governess. I think she’s just perfect!"
    Honey was silent for a while after that, and Trixie was just dozing off when she heard a strange scratching sound at the door. She leaned on her elbow and saw that Honey was sound asleep. In spite of herself, Trixie felt little shivers run up and down her spine. There were so many big, empty rooms in the house, and, except for the scratching, it was as quiet as a tomb.
    Trixie suddenly felt homesick. She had never spent the night away from her family before in all her life, and she wished now that she were in her own bed across the hall from Bobby. The scratching continued, and then she heard a little snuffling whine on the other side of the door.
    It must be Honeys little cocker puppy, she thought with relief as she scrambled out of bed to let Buddy in. The puppy wriggled with joy when she opened the door, and Trixie scooped him up into her arms. "Were you lonely, too, Bud?" she crooned, nestling him against her pajama top.
    Honey woke up, then. "Oh, I forgot to let Buddy in," she cried. "I’m sorry he woke you up. He always sleeps on the rug by my bed."
    The puppy jumped out of Trixie’s arms to lick Honey’s face, then curled up happily beside her. In a few minutes, both girls were sound asleep. When Trixie opened her eyes again, sunlight was flooding the room, and Celia was standing in the doorway with a tray heaped high with two delicious-looking breakfasts.

Mr. Lytell’s Curiosity • 15
     
    JIM STARED AT them in amazement when the girls appeared at the Mansion after breakfast, leading Jupiter.
    "Regan knows all about you," Honey said, answering the question in his eyes. "We didn’t tell. He saw us together yesterday morning from his room over the garage."
    Jim’s broad shoulders slumped. "Then that does it. He’ll tell the police, of course."
    "Oh, no, he won’t," Trixie put in. "He won’t tell anybody, Jim. And he wants you to ride Jupe. He said so."
    Jim looked worried, but he grinned. "Regan must be some guy!" He swung up on the back of the big black gelding, and as Jupiter began to prance, anxious to be off, the worried expression on Jim’s face faded into one of sheer delight. "I guess I’ll risk it," he said. "I won’t be