SARA itched for this precious possession of Robert's; she fanned this flame of her curiosity. Alice observed that by a certain expression on his face he made Sara realize that he was thinking of the mysterious and fascinatingly evil thing that he had bought. When she saw Sara jumping up and down, full of impatience and curiosity, and asked Robert what was the matter, and he replied,
"Oh, just thinking," what could a mother then do? After all, your jurisdiction has to stop at their thoughts. So a strained relation grew between Robert and Sara as the month of their stay drew to a close. Indeed, so strained was it that Sara savagely collected mounds and mounds of seaside things, and taunted Robert by saying,
"I am going to take mine home with me. Mother won't let you take yours because you snooked your blocks in the trunks," and so firm was her idea that these treasures must return with her that Alice contemplated the return packing with dread.
One evening, shortly before they departed, Sara was not to be found. She was not at the Jennings', and Robert, sent to find her, reported her as not at the Tobeys'. They called, but there was no answer to any cry of "Sara!" She had vanished, it seemed, from the face of the earth. Dusk crept on, while anger and anxiety grew in her parents' breasts. Finally Robert came back announcing, "I've found her."
"Where is she?" demanded Alice.
"Under the piazza," answered Robert.
