“Well, Amanda,” said Mrs. Stoddard, as the two girls came into the kitchen, “are you not glad to have Anne safe home again? ’twas quite a journey to take.”
“She likes Province Town better than Boston,” answered Amanda smilingly.
“To be sure she does, and why not?” replied Mrs. Stoddard. “There are few places where there is so much salt water to be seen as here, and no better place for fishing. Now, Anne, I have a little surprise for you. I have asked Mr. and Mrs. Starkweather and their six boys to come up this evening, and your father and mother, Amanda, and you and Amos. The evenings are getting fine and long now and we must begin to be neighborly.”
“Then I mustn’t stay long now,” said Amanda; “it will be pleasant to come up here again in the evening.”
Amanda tried on Anne’s blue cape and hat, looked admiringly at Mrs. Stoddard’s shining gold piece and brown shawl, and then Anne handed her the package of barley sugar.
“I will keep it,” said Amanda, gratefully; “’twould seem ungrateful to eat a present.”
Mrs. Stoddard nodded. “Keep it until Sunday, Amanda,” she said, “but then it will be well to eat a part of it.”
“But can she not taste it now?” asked Anne. “I am sure it is good. It came out of a big glass jar in a shop.”
“I see I must tell you two little girls a secret,” said Mrs. Stoddard, “but Amanda must not tell Amos.”
“No, indeed,” said Amanda quickly.