_Amy._ “And hat-box, by the train that gets here?—” [_Looks at_ HELEN _inquiringly._ _Helen._ Five fifteen. _Amy._ “That gets here at 5.15 Tuesday. Wire Mrs. Wycherly in name of Ferrol that you will be here at that time. Further particulars by post, but don’t fail.—Amy.” [_Rises and folds telegram._ _Rose._ If he will only come! Think of those boys watching our attention to him, and laughing in their sleeves. _Rose._ And we all the time laughing at them. _Helen._ And think of their faces when the discovery is made! _Rose._ Oh, Helen! You must have your camera ready, and take them at that moment. [_All laugh._ CURTAIN ACT II SCENE.—_Same room, and same arrangement, except that tea-table is up back to r., and the easy-chair l. is down centre._ MRS. W. _sits chair c. sewing._ ROSE _sits on arm of easy-chair r._ AMY _walking up and down at back._ HELEN _sits chair r. of fireplace._ _Amy (restlessly)._ I am so excited I can’t keep still. If Jack hadn’t telegraphed when he did, I could never have survived the nervous strain—but weren’t the men’s faces lovely when you read the despatch at luncheon! Sly dogs! _Helen._ I hope it will take the boys so long to clear the snow off Silverspoon that we can have your cousin alone for a few minutes. _Rose._ No such luck as that! Our evening’s skating will hardly weigh with them, compared to the danger of our greeting the supposed Mr. Parker without their moral support to carry him through. _Helen._ I almost wish it were Mr. Parker instead of Mr. Williams who is coming. How we could torture them all by awkward questions! _Rose._ I don’t think I ever appreciated before how deliciously the Indian must feel when he takes his enemy’s scalp. _Mrs. W._ Why, you blood-thirsty little wretch! _Helen._ Mama, we must make our arrangements so that they will have no chance to interview him this evening. Then, to-morrow, we will either fully coach him, or let them find out the trick—according to our wishes. _Mrs. W._ Let me see,—I will meet him at the front door; the moment the carriage drives up— _Helen._ Yes, and you must bring him in here to tea. We won’t let him go till the bell rings for dressing. Then we will all see him upstairs. _Mrs. W._ But you can’t watch him after he is once in his room, and any of the men can go to him. _Rose._ “Not if the court understand himself, and he thinks he do.” We will spell each other, so that one of us shall sit in the upper hall till Mr. Williams comes downstairs. The boys would never dare to run such a battery without a better excuse than they can invent for going to the room of an entire stranger. _Mrs. W._ That makes it safe till we leave them to their cigars.