Part 9 (1/2)
Entering the grounds, the girls saw that very little had been done to the property since their last visit. A half-hearted attempt had been made to rake one side of the lawn and an overgrown lilac bush had been mercilessly mutilated. Shutters on the house remained closed and the entire place had a gloomy, deserted appearance.
Penny rapped on the door. Evidently Mrs. Marborough had noted the approach of the two girls for she responded to their knock immediately.
”Good afternoon,” Penny began, ”we were driving by and thought we would drop in to see you again.”
”How nice of you,” Mrs. Marborough smiled. ”Look over the garden as much as you please.”
”The garden--” Louise faltered, gazing quickly at Penny.
”Or make wishes at the well,” Mrs. Marborough went on hastily. ”Go anywhere you like, and I'll join you as soon as I get a wrap.”
The door closed gently in their faces.
”Who wants to see a tangle of weeds?” Louise demanded in a whisper. ”Why didn't Mrs. Marborough invite us into the house?”
”Why indeed?” echoed Penny, frowning thoughtfully. ”There can be but one reason! She has a dark secret which she is trying to hide from the world!”
CHAPTER 7 _PENNY'S DISCOVERY_
”Hiding a secret, my eye!” laughed Louise. ”Penny Parker, sometimes I think that every person in Riverview suggests mystery and intrigue to you!”
”Then you explain why Mrs. Marborough doesn't invite us into her house!”
Penny challenged her chum. ”And why did she turn the members of the Pilgrimage Committee away?”
”Oh, probably the place isn't fixed up the way she wants it yet.”
”That's no reason. No, she has a different one than that, Lou, and I'm curious to learn what it is.”
”You're always curious,” Louise teased, taking Penny by the arm. ”Come along. Let's get a drink at the well.”
While the girls were lowering the bucket into the bricked cavern, Mrs.
Marborough joined them, a woolen shawl thrown over her head and shoulders.
”I've not had time to get much work done yet,” she apologized. ”I really must hire a man to clean up the grounds.”
”Then you have decided to make your home here?” Louise inquired eagerly.
”For the present, I may. Much depends upon how a certain project turns out.”
Penny and Louise waited hopefully, but Mrs. Marborough said no more.
Changing the subject, she inquired about Rhoda Wiegand and the other members of the Palette Club.
”I like young people,” she declared brightly. ”Do tell your friends to come to Rose Acres whenever they wish.”
”A rather strange thing occurred yesterday,” Penny said suddenly. ”Rhoda made a wish here at the well, and it came true.”
”What was the wish?” the old lady inquired with curiosity.