Ben laughed. "No, he was stiff from eating too many ramrods."
Edna knew this wasn't true, but she didn't ask any more questions just then. The train was nearing the familiar station where they were to get off. She wondered if Celia and the boys, or Celia and Agnes would be there to meet them. She thought it very likely, as the family must know they would arrive about this time.
[180] But as the train moved off there was no sign of any of their friends. "They didn't come after all," said Edna to Dorothy. "I wonder if they know Ben is with us?"
"Why, how could they know. Did you tell them on the post-card you wrote from Boston, or the one you sent Celia from Concord?"
"No. Did you say anything about it?"
"Not a word."
"Then that will be a sort of surprise, for even if they expect us they won't expect Ben."
It was not a very long walk from the station to the home of either little girl, though it had appeared long enough to Edna one evening the winter before when she had been caught in a snow-storm.
"I won't stop," said Dorothy, when they had reached Edna's gate. "I can scarcely wait to see mother."
"I feel just that way," said Edna. "Will you come over this evening?"