Then the three parted, and Joanne walked on thoughtfully, beneath the arching, leafy trees. There were roses, roses everywhere; the air was sweet with them and with the pendant blooms of wistaria. Joanne felt very happy even when she thought of the coming of July, which would separate her from her companions. “I have nearly a whole month yet,” she said to herself as she mounted the steps leading to her home.
She found her grandmother and Cousin Sue in close conversation. “Cousin Sue!” she exclaimed, “I certainly am glad to find you here. You are going to stay to lunch, of course.”
“Of course,” Mrs. Selden assured her.
“How goes school?” asked Mrs. Pattison.
“Fine as silk. I’m through all my exams. and I passed every one. I even got a pretty good mark in math., which was the fiercest one of all for a poor body like me. As for my writing and spelling, I’m afraid I had a call down on them. Even Grad can’t say I haven’t improved in other things; I have worked hard enough.”
“You don’t feel the worse for it?” said her grandmother anxiously.
“Dear me, no, I am as fit as a fiddle. You should see the stunts I can do in the gym. Gradda, do you think there will be any chance for me to row and swim, this summer? I can swim a little but I want to be a Jim dandy at it. There should be lots of chances at a place like Jamestown.”
Mrs. Selden glanced at Mrs. Pattison and smiled. “What would you say if I told you we were not going to Jamestown?”
“Oh, Gradda!” Joanne clasped her hands ecstatically.
“No, we are not going for several reasons. In the first place I have had a letter from Mrs. Abercrombie who says the Admiral has to go to the Pacific coast and she is going with him, so I don’t care to undertake the upkeep of the cottage we had planned to share. Then, your grandfather is interested in some matters here which will keep him occupied until August at the earliest. Sue and I were talking over the situation when you came in.”