By the time the inspection of the house was over, Mrs. Fabian returned with just such a brass pedestal banquet lamp as Mrs. Tomlinson had secretly envied and long hoped for. Such joy and pleasure as she took in selecting a clean crocheted mat to spread on the cold marble slab of the center table, and then place thereon her vision come true, was worth all the trouble Mrs. Fabian had had in finding the lamp at a second-hand shop at Stamford; but later when that wise collector examined her old candle-sticks and pitcher, she felt a hundred times repaid for the lamp--as she truly was. The merry collectors started home that afternoon, after enjoying the picnic luncheon beside a brook in the woods back of Stamford, with their hopes pitched high for future successes in collecting. Mr. Dalken heard from Carl about the successful quest that day, and telephoned to the Fabians, that evening. The Ashbys had hurried over when they heard of the pieces secured at the farm-house, and were present when Mr. Dalken questioned the girls all about their "find." "Now we're dying to start again, Mr. Dalken, and hunt up other trophies," said Polly, in conclusion. CHAPTER VII A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC HUNT So delighted were the amateur collectors with the result of their first search for antiques, that they planned another trip a few days later. Carl could not drive the car for them, as Mr. Dalken had invited a number of business friends who were in New York for a few days to go out on Long Island with him, for the day. He took the seven-passenger car and Carl for the drive, so the girls had to be contented with the smaller car. But neither Mr. Dalken nor Carl knew that the girls proposed going alone. They believed Mr. Fabian or Mr. Ashby's chauffeur would drive the car. Eleanor bragged about her ability to drive an automobile and the girls knew from experience how well Dodo could drive, so the outing was planned without any grown-up being consulted about the driving or chaperoning. "Did not Carl have a road-map in the side-pocket of the car, the day he drove us to Stamford?" asked Polly. "Yes, but the car is in the garage, and the map with it," returned Eleanor. "Daddy has a road-map. I'll get his," remarked Ruth Ashby, who had been invited to be one of the party this trip. "Then bring it around tonight, Ruth, when you come to plan about the route we ought to choose for this outing," said Polly. Ruth hurried home and immediately after dinner, that evening, she found the map in the library desk-drawer and tucked it in her pocket. As she ran through the front hall she called to her mother: "I'm going over to the Fabians for a little talk, Mummy." "But, Ruth, you just came from there a few moments before dinner," came from Mrs. Ashby. "Oh, I didn't visit that time! I only stopped in with the girls to wait and see if Nancy had a map they all need. Now I'm going to visit," explained Ruth.