The ride home seemed shorter than the trip to the fair.
They joined in singing the merry songs that his fine voice led, and the horses, knowing that they were on the homeward trip, jogged along at a better pace than when they had started out.
Uncle Harry had found some bells, and fastened them to their harnesses, and they made a jingling accompaniment to the merry voices.
And when the barge drew up at the Cleverton, Uncle Harry, with elaborate courtesy, handed each young lady down, bowing low, and thanking her for the honor she had conferred upon him by permitting him to take her to the fair.
"Oh, you do truly know we have to thank you for giving us such a lovely day!" said Dorothy.
"But think how happy I have been," he said, and although his blue eyes were laughing, they knew that he meant it.
"Oh, mamma, we had the finest time," cried Dorothy, "and see the fine basket of candy and the pretty birch bark box! See the little ferns growing in it. Isn't he dear?"
"He surely is charming," said Mrs. Dainty. "His generous, sunny nature makes every one love him, and I believe he values the love of his friends more than most things."
"He has been gay, and full of fun all day," said Nancy, "and it will take a long time to tell you all the pleasant things he did for us. I do wish you and Aunt Charlotte could have been there when he had his fortune told."
"And he couldn't have been any nicer to us if we'd been tall ladies," said Floretta.