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Then she circled on—at such a terrible rate that the Piper could not keep pace. He ceased running and fell behind, breathing hard and complaining ill-temperedly.

“Oh! Oh!” mourned Gwendolyn. The smoke blown back from that fleeing figure smarted her throat and eyes. She raised an arm to shield her face. Disappointed, and feeling a first touch of weariness, she could not choke back a great sob that shook her convulsively.

The Man-Who-Makes-Faces, whiskers buried in his ragged collar, was nodding thoughtfully “By and by,” he murmured; “—by and by, presently, later on.”

The Doctor was even more comforting. “There! There!” he said. “Don’t cry.”

“But, oh,” breathed Gwendolyn, her bosom heaving, “why don’t you feel her pulse?”

“It’s—it’s terrible,” faltered Gwendolyn’s father. His agonized look was fixed upon the road.

Now the road was indeed terrible. For there were great chasms in it—chasms that yawned darkly; that opened and closed as if by the rush and receding of water. Gwendolyn’s mother crossed them in flitting leaps, as from one roof-top to another. Her daintily shod feet scarcely touched the road, so swift was her going. A second, and she was whipped from sight at the Barn’s corner. About her slender figure, as it disappeared, dust mingled with the smoke—mingled and swirled, funnel-like in shape, with a wide base and a narrow top, like the picture of a water-spout in the back of Gwendolyn’s geography.

The Piper came back, wiping his forehead. “What does she care about a poke!” he scolded, flinging himself down irritably. “Huh! All she thinks about is what They say!”

At that Gwendolyn’s spirits revived. Somehow, instantly and clearly, she knew what should be done!

But when she opened her mouth, she found that she could not speak. Her lips were dry. Her tongue would not move. She could only swallow.

Then, just as she was on the point of throwing herself down and giving way utterly to tears, she felt a touch on her hand—a furry touch. Next, something was slipped into her grasp. It was the lip-case!

“Well, Mr. Piper,” she cried out, “what do They say?”

They were close by, standing side by side, gazing at nothing. For their eyes were wide open, their faces expression-less.

Gwendolyn’s father addressed them. “I never asked my wife to drop that sort of thing,” he said gravely, “—for Gwendolyn’s sake. You might, I suppose.” One hand was in his pocket.

The two pairs of wide-open eyes blinked once. The two mouths spoke in unison: “Money talks.”

Gwendolyn’s father drew his hand from his pocket. It was filled with bills. “Will these—?” he began.

It was the Piper who snatched the money out of his hand and handed it to They. And thinking it over afterward, Gwendolyn felt deep gratitude for the promptness with which They acted. For having received the money, They advanced into that terrible road, faced half-about, and halted.

The angry song of the bee was faint then. For the slender figure was speeding past those patches of light that could be seen through the girders of the Barn. But soon the buzzing grew louder—as Gwendolyn’s mother came into sight, shrouded, and scarcely discernible.

They met her as she came on, blocking her way. And, “Madam!” They shouted. “Trade your bonnet for the Piper’s poke!”

Gwendolyn held her breath.

Her mother halted. Now for the first time she lifted her eyes and looked about—as if dazed and miserable. There was a flush on each smooth cheek. She was panting so that her lips quivered.

The Piper rose and hurried forward. And seeing him, half-timidly she reached out a hand—a slender, white hand. Quickly he relinquished the poke, but when she took it, made a cup of his two hands under it, as if he feared she might let it fall. The poke was heavier than the bonnet. She held it low, but looked at it intently, smiling a little.

Presently, without even a parting glance, she held the bonnet out to him. “Take it away,” she commanded. “It isn’t becoming.”

He received it; and promptly made off along the road, the bonnet held up before his face. “When it comes to chargin’,” he called back, with an independent jerk of the head, “I’m the only chap that can keep ahead of a chauffeur.” And he laughed uproariously.