Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/103

Rh if there are illuminations. Fritz always has to come back early, and you would n’t let me stay until dark.”

For a moment Mrs. Redmond seemed to be thinking deeply. At last she said, with a smile,—

“I will tell you what I will do. You may go to Marblehead this afternoon, and about six o’clock I will  meet you. But first, Fritz, I wish that you would get your uncle’s permission to stay out for the evening.”

Fritz’s face clouded over.

“It won’t be very easy to get it.”

“I will give you a note to take to him immediately after dinner. It will explain what we intend to do. I will tell him that I will hold myself responsible for your safe return—provided that you and Amy will promise to keep out of  mischief this afternoon.”

“Oh, mother, as if we ever get into mischief! ”

“How about that base-ball that landed so unceremoniously over Fritz’s eye?”

“But that was an accident.”

“Well, there are one or two other things that I might mention,—only I’d rather not spoil your holiday. But to-day I want you to have just as good a time as you  can. The wind has changed since the early morning, and we are not likely to find it so very hot this  afternoon.”

While Amy was clearing the table, Mrs. Redmond wrote the note, and Fritz ran off with it toward his home. The two houses were not very far apart, although Mr. Tomkins’ house was much more pleasantly situated on