The maid had answered the ring, and now the boy was wandering along the
path, content that his time-mark allowed a few moments for such
recreation.
Mrs. White appeared on the piazza presently. Dorothy and Tavia were
within its portals, waiting to be summoned.
"My dear," began the hostess, "I have just received a message from Major
Dale. He wants you to come home--at once. He is called to Rochester on
important business, and as he says Mrs. Martin is not well, so he cannot
leave without having his little housekeeper in charge of things--
Dorothy, you are a real Dale, able at your age to keep house."
"Aunt Libby sick," was Dorothy's first thought and exclamation.
"The Rochester case," declared Tavia. "That means the Burlock mystery is
going to be cleared up."
"The major did not, of course, hint at the nature of his business, but I
am really so sorry to lose you just now. And the boys at camp--they will
be painfully disappointed," said Mrs. White.
"We have had a perfectly splendid time," declared Dorothy, "and I am
sure we can hardly thank you for your--attention. You have so many calls
upon your time and you did all that shopping for us."
"My dear," and the aunt tilted Dorothy's chin to kiss it, "that was a
real dissipation. To shop for my own girls.
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