Please push up my table . I must write a letter , and I want you to post it for me to-night , and never say a word till I give you leave . '' `` Oh , now you are going to have secrets and be mysterious , and get into a mess , are you ? '' and Frank looked down at her with a suspicious air , though he was intensely curious to know what she was about . `` Go away till I 'm done . You will have to see the outside , but you ca n't know the inside till the answer comes ; '' and propping herself up , Jill wrote the following note , with some hesitation at the beginning and end , for she did not know the gentleman she was addressing , except by sight , and it was rather awkward : -- `` Robert Walker . `` Dear Sir , I want to ask if Jack Minot came to see you last Friday afternoon . He got into trouble being seen with Jerry Shannon . He paid him some money . Jack wo n't tell , and Mr. Acton talked to him about it before all the school . We feel bad , because we think Jack did not do wrong . I do n't know as you have anything to do with it , but I thought I 'd ask . Please answer quick . Respectfully yours , `` Jane Pecq '' To make sure that her despatch was not tampered with , Jill put a great splash of red sealing-wax on it , which gave it a very official look , and much impressed Bob when he received it . `` There ! Go and post it , and do n't let any one see or know about it , '' she said , handing it over to Frank , who left his work with unusual alacrity to do her errand . When his eye fell on the address , he laughed , and said in a teasing way , -- `` Are you and Bob such good friends that you correspond ? What will Jack say ? '' `` Do n't know , and do n't care ! Be good , now , and let 's have a little secret as well as other folks .
I 'll tell you all about it when he answers , '' said XXXXX in her most coaxing tone .
Acton Bob Frank Jack Jill Minot Shannon afternoon despatch left