But Miss Trinkett was not to be turned from her purpose. Go she would. Every available excuse in the world was brought up to deter her, but the end of it was that Jack drove around in the buggy, and Miss Betsey departed triumphantly. Cynthia awaited her return in suspense. She wished that she could run away. Her impersonation of her aunt did not seem such a joke as it had at the time, and then she had heard the dreadful news there. Miss Trinkett came back before very long in high dudgeon. Cynthia was alone on the piazza, for Edith had not appeared again. She noticed that Jack was apparently enjoying a huge joke, and instead of taking the horse to the barn, he remained to hear what Aunt Betsey had to say. Miss Trinkett sank into a chair and untied her bonnet strings with a jerk. "Maria Parker is losing her mind," she announced. "As for me, I shall never go there again." "Why not, Aunt Betsey?" murmured Cynthia, preparing herself for the worst. "She declares that I was there two weeks ago, and that she--_she_ told me the news of my own nephew's engagement! She actually had the effrontery to say, 'I told you so!' My own nephew! When his letter the other day was the first I heard of it, and I said to Silas, said I, 'Silas, nephew John Franklin is going to marry again, and give a mother to those children, and I'm glad of it, and I've just heard the news.' And now for Maria Parker to tell me that she told me, and that I was there two weeks ago! Is the woman crazy, or am I the one that has lost my mind? Why don't you say something, Cynthy? Is it possible you agree with Mrs. Parker? Come, now, answer a question. Was I here two weeks ago, and did I go and see Maria Parker?" "No," murmured Cynthia, her face crimson, her voice almost inaudible. But Aunt Betsey was too much excited to notice. "Jackie," she said, turning to him, "will you answer me a question? Did I visit you two weeks ago, and did I call upon Mrs. Parker?" Jack gave one look at Cynthia, and then, dropping on the grass, rolled over and over in an ecstasy of mirth. "You're in for it now, Miss Cynthia!" he chuckled. Miss Betsey drew herself up. "You have not answered my questions. Was I here two weeks ago, and did I call upon Mrs. Parker?" "No, no, Aunt Betsey!" shouted Jack. "You weren't! You didn't! Go ahead, Cynth! Out with it! My eye, I'm glad I'm here and nowhere else! I've been waiting for this happy day. Now you'll get paid up for fooling me." And again he rolled, his long legs beating the air. "I think you are mean, Jack, when you were the one that made me go!" exclaimed Cynthia, indignantly. Then she relapsed into silence. How could she ever confess to Aunt Betsey? Miss Trinkett hastened the climax.