"She had to go to Boston, so she won't be able to come over to the house to-day," Janet explained. Mr. Simpson eyed her suspiciously, then he read the letter. Janet watched his face, and at the sudden change of expression, she could not repress a smile. "Are you Widow Page's granddaughter?" he inquired at last. Janet nodded and tried to look solemn. "Did you and that boy from Blunts' know all the time that the owner of that house was Mrs. Todd!" This time Janet shook her head. "Did you have permission to go there when you liked!" "No." "Did you know I weren't no real sheriff!" "No." "Weren't you scared!" The question was asked with so much anxiety, that Janet could not find it in her heart to disappoint the little man before her. "Indeed I was," she said. "I was frightened to death. You see, you looked so very severe that I thought at first you were the owner. It was lucky for us, wasn't it, that Mrs. Todd did own it, for of course she didn't mind a bit." Mr. Simpson stroked his chin slowly and tried to hide the smile of satisfaction on his round face. "Waal," he said condescendingly, "I'm sorry I scared you, though I must say neither of you looked very frightened; but, you see, I had to do my duty as a one-time officer of the State." "Of course," Janet agreed. "I hope you'll tell Mrs. Page that I am sorry my duty lay in the direction it did," he continued. "I wouldn't like to have her put out with me." "I'll tell her," Janet laughed, and added, as she turned Clinker around, "I am going to the house on the hill now, so please, if you happen in as you did yesterday, ring the bell and let me know you're coming. I'd hate to be frightened that way ever again." Mr. Simpson was now thoroughly sure that he was not the object of ridicule, and he beamed upon Janet and all the autumn landscape. "Don't you worry, little lady," he chuckled; "now that I know who you are I won't never question your right to be any place in this county, and any time I can do you a service you just call on me and you'll find I'm your man." Janet thanked him graciously and drove off, without giving herself away by even a smile. Once on the road and out of earshot, however, she laughed so heartily that Clinker pricked up his ears and started to run. "There, there, old fellow, I didn't mean to frighten you,"--she quieted him--"take your time and do stop frisking. It would be too awful for words if you ran away and dumped me anywhere. Think what Alice and Mildred would say." Clinker obligingly settled into a trot, and they were soon at the entrance to the Enchanted Kingdom. Janet had never before approached it from the land side, and she was surprised at the broad sweep of driveway before her. The house and barns looked more imposing from this side too. "It is truly a fairy castle," she said aloud.