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 CHAPTER XI

HEN they reached Quimpaug, the Count's boat was moored and its owner nowhere to be seen. The Pemberleys and Joan disembarked and went up into the village to do various errands. Before the delivery window at the post-office stood a plump old lady in an alpaca dress and a black straw bonnet amazingly small and rusty.

"That's old Mrs. Bassett," Elspeth murmured to Joan. "You saw her daughter, I think, when you were looking for a lodging that night."

The old lady turned just then, and her round face broke into a hundred kindly wrinkles of pleasure. She beamed delightedly through her silver-rimmed spectacles, and cried out:

"Well, now! Seems to me I jest never see you folks! You al'ays come in jest when I'm gen'ally back home. How be you?" She turned to Joan. "You're the young lady from 113