“For Amanda, indeed!” exclaimed Mistress Stoddard. “I’m not too sure that she deserves it. ’Twas she that sent you out into the night, thinking your Aunt Martha hard-hearted and unfair. And now a fine present for her—I do not know about it.”
“Oh, Aunt Martha, Amanda didn’t mean to,” pleaded Anne, “and she came and told you.”
Anne picked up the bundle and sped away. Down past the spring and up the sandy path toward Amanda’s home she ran, hoping to meet Amanda coming to welcome her. Amanda was on the door-step with her knitting. At the sight of Anne she started up as if to run indoors, but Anne’s call made her hesitate, and in a moment Anne was beside her, saying: “Amanda! Amanda! Isn’t it fine that I am home again! And see, I’ve brought you these presents from Boston. See, Amanda!” and she held up the silk sash, and spread out the pretty dimity.
But instead of exclaiming with delight, as Anne had expected, poor Amanda dropped her work, covered her face with her hands and began to cry.
“Stop crying, Amanda Cary! You’ll get spots on your lovely sash,” said Anne, and Amanda’s tears ceased in sudden terror lest she spoil that wonderful length of shining blue silk.
“Taste of that barley sugar, Amanda,” continued Anne, opening a heart-shaped box, and helping herself to a piece. Amanda obeyed almost unconsciously, and when Mrs. Cary came to the door a little later she found the two girls sitting close together, talking and laughing.
That night after Anne was fast asleep in the little loft chamber, John Nelson told his good friends that he wished all the little settlement to share in his good fortune.
“My little maid and I have found a home and friends here,” he said, “and I should like well to do some friendly thing for the people before I return to Boston.”
“’Twould be a pleasant thing for us all to have a day together, and a good dinner,” suggested Mistress Stoddard, “with figs, dates, and some of those fine crackers and jellies, and of course, a good fish chowder; ’twould be a treat indeed,” and so it was decided that the neighborhood should be bidden to come as the guests of John Nelson and Anne for a day’s pleasuring.
“We’ll spread a sail in the yard to make a shelter from the sun,” suggested Captain Enos.