"Hallo, Pam!" shouted Avelyn gleefully, "I've unearthed you at last, old sport!" "Wait a sec. I'll come down," returned her friend in a cautious voice. Pamela appeared from out the stable door, with a rainbow face in which storm and sunshine seemed to be struggling. "I never expected to see you, Ave! Have you dropped from the skies?" "No, climbed over the palings. I thought I'd be sure to find you somewhere about in the garden. I saw your hat, and went to look for you." "Yes. I was gardening." "Is this your hen-house?" "No, it's not the hen-house, it's--just a kind of stable." "It reminds me of the Swiss Family Robinson, or Robin Hood's shanty in the depths of Sherwood Forest. You could climb up that tree if you got on to the roof." As Avelyn's eyes glanced up the bole of the huge oak Pamela's followed with a look of strained anxiety. She laid her hand on her friend's arm and drew her inside the stable. She seemed ill at ease. "What's the matter, Pam?" "Oh, nothing!" "You're not yourself at all." "Yes, indeed I am." "I don't believe you're pleased to see me!" "Ave! I've been dreaming of you all the morning." "Then what is it?" Pamela was silent. "Something's worrying you. I can see that plainly enough." "Yes. I own I'm worried." "Won't you tell me?" "I can't." "Is it a secret?" "It is just at present. I want to think it over." While she spoke Pamela kept glancing anxiously out at the door. She suddenly turned with frightened eyes. "Ave! Uncle Fritz is coming! You must hide, quick! He mustn't catch you here for all the world! Run behind this stall. Don't move till he's gone." [Illustration: AVELYN, CROUCHED UNDER THE MANGER, COULD HEAR THE BULLYING TONE IN HIS VOICE] She hustled Avelyn into the darkest corner of the stable, then herself sat down on the foot of the ladder that led to the floor above. A sound of footsteps brushing the grass was heard from outside, and in another moment Mr. Hockheimer entered. "What are you doing down here?" he asked sharply. "I told you to stop upstairs." "I've only just come down." "Any message?" "No, none at all." "One might come just when you are fooling about here," he frowned. "Why don't you do as I tell you?" Avelyn, crouched under the manger, could not see his face, but she could hear the bullying tone in his voice. "Do you think I feed you and educate you for you to do just as you like?" continued Mr. Hockheimer angrily. "What would become of you if it weren't for me, I should like to know? Another time when I set you to do anything you'll do it, or I'll know the reason why. Here, get up and let me pass!"