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Show - 117 - .CHAPTER XVIII Most of the time was spent outdoors since the weather was beautiful after the morning fog disappeared. Penny and Vicky took long walks, read a lot, visited with friends and enjoyed their Saturday afternoon matinees. The weekend after their parents had been gone, it was early in the morning and they were upstairs in their room. Penny was standing at the big window overlooking the garden and the Eucalyptus grove, and she saw Claudine in her eternal wandering. She didn't lookout seemed to float amongst the roses. Penny still wore her long nightgown and her feet were bare. She could feel a sense of urgency overtaking her again and she turned to Vicky and said. "Let's go down to the truck gardens this morning. I want to Speak to my friend, Chang Lin." Vicky's head was buried under the blankets and she completely ignored her sister. "Did you hear me, get up." insisted Penny. "I want to talk to you." "I heard you," said a muffled voice under the blankets. "Gee whiz, Pen, will you let me sleep. It's Saturday morning and vacation time. I see no reason to have to wake up so early. Besides, remember how Mama feels. She wants us to keep away from anything that concerns the ghost." Later on, as they sat at the old kitchen table and Maddie prepared and slices of crisp bacon, pancakes on the griddle, hot chocolate, scrambled eggs, Penny mentioned to Maddie that they would take a walk down the hill. To Vicky's surprise Maddie looked at Penny quickly, but did not make any objections. Tom would stand at the top of the hill and watch closely. Also, she knew that nothing was going to stop Penny now. With her parents away she had a free rein. Maddie was a willing cohort and will nilly, Vicky was going to be a part of it too. Dixie was sitting on the floor beside Vicky. She sat on her little |