"I am glad we aren't going away in summer," she said, observing all the familiar things. "I'm glad, too," she went on, "that the boys have to be here several years longer, so it isn't as if we shouldn't come back to just the same things."
"We shan't come back to the old fence," said Jean; "that's gone."
"And a good riddance that was. Aunt Helen says next thing the house must be painted, but I don't know that I want it to be," said Nan half regretfully; "it won't seem like our own old dingy dear home. I don't like spick and span things always."
"I am sure the sofa looks fine in its new cover," said Jean.
"Yes, but you have to keep your feet off it," said Jack, resentfully.
There was a sober look on Ran's face as he came up with the other two boys and Mary Lee.
"What do you think of our good news?" said Nan.
"I don't think it is very good news," he replied.
"You don't? Why not?" asked Nan, opening wide her eyes.
"Because we shall miss you all so awfully when we come back next year, and the house is going to be painted, too, so it won't seem a bit the same."