Mr. Nelson hurried away to the wharves, and Anne and Rose went up to the attic for Anne’s book. “For I suppose we must pack up your things to-night,” Rose said. “Your father has bought you a fine portmanteau. It’s in your room now.”
Anne picked up the book, and was eager to hurry to her room to see the new bag, but Rose detained her a moment.
“Why, Anne,” she exclaimed, “you have left out the most important thing.”
“What did I leave out?” questioned Anne.
“Why, about Amanda!” replied Rose. “You started this on purpose for Mistress Stoddard, so that she could know all about your running away.”
“Oh,” said Anne, in a tone of relief, “then I haven’t forgotten anything. You see, Rose, Amanda told Aunt Martha all about it, so it’s all right.”
Rose looked at her little friend for a moment as if she were going to scold her, then she began to smile, and leaning down kissed the little girl’s cheek.
“You know how to be a friend, Anne,” she said, “and I’m sure Amanda will never do another hateful thing to you.”
“Captain Starkweather says he’ll take me to Province Town to see his boys some time,” Frederick announced as the family gathered at the supper table, “and Anne’s father tells me that if I go to Salem to-morrow I’ll see ships that go to all parts of the world.”
“That is true, my son,” replied his father. “There’s a ship now in Salem just arrived from Cadiz with a load of salt, and another with tea and silks from China. ’Twas great good fortune that they reached harbor safely. They would have been a fine prize for some British ship.”