No one seemed to be stirring, but they unfastened the locks and chains of the front doors, and stepped out into the beautiful fresh morning.
Ive got to holler! said Dick, still whispering. They cant hear us now.
Yes, they can; wait till we get farther away from the house.
So, hand in hand, they ran down the garden path, and when a grape arbour and a cornfield were between them and their sleeping aunts, they decided they were out of hearing.
Hooray! yelled Dick, as loud as he could, at the same time turning a jubilant handspring.
Dolly was quite as glad as her brother, but contented herself with dancing about, and giving little squeals of delight as she saw one rapturous sight after another.
Oh, Dick, she cried, theres a fountain! way over there on the little hill. Do you spose thats on our grounds?
Course it is. This is all ours, as far as you can see, and more too. That woodsy place over there is ours; Pat told me so.
Well have picnics there. And Dick, maybe there are fairies in the woods.
Sure there are. Thats just the kind of woods that has fairies. But they only come out at night, you know.
Yes, but its only just a little past night now. The sun has only been up a short time. Maybe there are some fairies there yet.
Maybe; lets go and see.
With a skip and a jump the children started for the woods, which, however proved to be farther away than they had thought.
They trudged merrily on, stopping now and then to speak to a robin, or kick at a dandelion, but at last they came to the edge of the grove.
Oh, Dick! cried Dolly, in ecstasy, think of having a real woods, right in our own yard! Isnt it gorgeous!
Great! but go softly now, if we want to see fairies. Im fraid theyve all gone.
Hand in hand the children tiptoed into the wood. They moved very cautiously, lest they should step on a twig, or make any noise that should frighten the fairies.
Theres where they dance, whispered Dick, pointing to a smooth, green mossy place. But of course they always fly away when the sun rises.
Yes, I spose so, said Dolly, regretfully. Shall we come out earlier to-morrow?
Yes; or we might come out to see them some night. Moonlight nights; thats the time!
Would you dare? Oh, Dick, wouldnt it be grand!
Hey, Dolly, theres a squirrel; a real, live one! Thats bettern fairies. Oh, look at him!
Sure enough, a grey squirrel ran past them, and now sat, turning his head back to look at them, but ready for instant flight if they moved.
But they didnt move, they knew better; and scarce daring to breathe, they sat watching the wonderful sight.
Meantime, there was consternation in the household. At seven oclock Miss Rachel had sent Hannah, the waitress, to call the twins.
The maid returned with a scared face, and announced that the children had gone.
Gone! cried Miss Rachel, who was engaged in making her own toilet; where have they gone?
I dont know, maam; but theyre not in their rooms, and the front door is wide open.
Oh, theyve run away! cried Miss Rachel, and hastily throwing on a dressing gown, she went to her sisters room.
Get up, Abbie, she exclaimed. Those children have run away!
Run away? What do you mean?
Why, theyve gone! I suppose they didnt like us. Perhaps they were homesick, or something. Abbie, do you suppose theyve gone back to Chicago, all alone?
Nonsense, Rachel, of course they havent! Children always rise early. Theyre probably walking in the garden.
No, I dont think so. Something tells me theyve run away because they dont like us. Oh, Abbie, do you think thats it?
No, I dont. Go on and dress. Theyll be back by the time youre ready for breakfast. If youre worried, send Hannah out to hunt them up.
So Hannah was sent, but as she only looked in the verandas and in the gardens near the house, of course, she didnt find the twins. By the time the ladies came downstairs, Hannah had impressed Pat and Michael into service, and all three were hunting for the missing guests.
But it never occurred to them to go so far as the woods, where Dick and Dolly were even then sitting, watching the grey squirrel, and looking for fairies.
Im thinkin theyve fell in the pond, said Pat, as he gazed anxiously into the rather muddy water.
Not thim! said Michael; theyre not the sort that do be afther drownin thimsilves. Theyre too frisky. Belikes theyve run back to the brook where they shtopped at yisterday. Do yez go there an look, Pat.
Yes, do, said Miss Rachel, who, with clasped hands and a white face was pacing the veranda.
Dont take it so hard, sister, implored Miss Abbie. Theyre around somewhere, Im sure; and if not, why, you know, Rachel, you didnt want them here very much, anyway.
How can you be so heartless! cried Miss Rachel, her eyes staring reproachfully at her sister. I do want them; theyre brothers children, and this is their rightful home. But I wish they wanted to stay. Im sure they ran away because they didnt like us. Do you think we were too harsh with them yesterday?
Perhaps so. At any rate, they have run away. I thought they were in the garden, but if so, they would have been found by now. Do you suppose they took an early train back to New York?
Oh, Abbie, how can you say so! Those two dear little mites alone in a great city! I cant think it!
Its better than thinking they are drowned in the pond.
Either is awful; and yet of course some such thing must have happened.
The two ladies were on the verge of hysterics, and the servants, who had all been hunting for the children, were nonplussed. Pat had jumped on a horse, and galloped off to the brook which had so taken their fancy the day before, and Michael stood, with his hands in his pockets, wondering if he ought to drag the pond. Delia, the cook, had left the waiting breakfast and had come to join the anxious household.
Im thinkin theyre not far off, she said; why dont ye blow a horn, now?
Thats a good idea, said Miss Abbie; try it, Michael.
So Michael found an old dinner-horn that had hung unused in the barn for many years, and he blew resounding blasts.
But unfortunately, the babes in the woods were too far away to hear, and forgetful of all else they watched two squirrels, who, reassured by the childrens quiet, ran back and forth, and almost came right up to Dick and Dollys beckoning fingers.
If only we had something to feed them, said Dick, vainly hunting his pockets for something edible.
If only we had something to feed ourselves, said Dolly; Im just about starved.
Som I; lets go back now, and come to see the squirrels some other time, and bring them some nuts.
All right, lets.
So back they started, but leisurely, for they had no thought of how the time had slipped by. They paused here and there to investigate many things, and it was well on toward nine oclock when they came within hearing of Michaels horn, on which he was blowing a last, despairing blast.
Hear the horn! cried Dick. Do you spose thats the way they call the family to breakfast?
Oh, it isnt breakfast time, yet, said Dolly, confidently. Im hungry enough, but it cant be eight oclock, I know. And, besides, I want time to tidy up.