Meanwhile the novel and the illustrations for it lay unheeded in the depths of Mary's desk drawer, for the author declared that she should not copy it into the beautiful gilt edge, morocco-covered blank-book which the club had provided until she knew exactly how things were going to end. This there seemed to be no immediate prospect of finding out. "The Merry Hearts" watched Ethel and Dr. Eaton as closely as they could without appearing intrusive, but they discovered absolutely nothing.