Grape-fruit, coffee, and toast was what they ordered, and then they laughed to find that every other girl in the diner was eating exactly the same thing. For grape-fruit, coffee, and toast is the college and school girl train-breakfast the country over.
“I feel as if I’d been away a hundred years,” said Katherine excitedly as the train at last pulled into the station. “Oh, they’ll all be down at the train, I wired them to. And how proud I’ll be to show them you, Peggy, and tell them that you are the one they’ve heard so much about in all my letters since the very first, which was full of your rose-tree episode.”
The porter had already gone ahead with their bags, and they, peering eagerly out of the windows as they made their way to the platform, sought to catch a glimpse of Katherine’s family.
As they stepped off it seemed to Peggy that a veritable whirlpool engulfed them. On every side were enthusiastic people kissing her and Katherine indiscriminately. And she in her gladness to get there and her happiness in meeting with such friendly acceptance kissed them back with impartial enthusiasm, Katherine’s mother and father, her younger sister, an aunt, and three “kid brothers”—these were the reception committee that were now hustling the girls to the big waiting automobile that belonged to Katherine’s father and overwhelming them with expressions of pleasure and welcome.
The house, when they came to it, was a great homey affair, with many rich rugs and pictures that did not, however, dazzle by their magnificence but seemed to fit into the general atmosphere of comfort. Peggy, who had never visited in so wonderful a place before, danced from attic to cellar, as light as thistledown, and sent the whole family into roars of appreciative laughter at her naïve and hearty approval of it all.
“You’re home, now, Peggy,” Katherine said.
And Peggy nodded happily. “Why, of course,” was her comment. “It certainly feels like it, and I love every darling member of your perfectly grand family, Katherine Foster.”
Two days after their arrival the Fosters had a Christmas party for them, and for the first time in her life Peggy helped to trim a Christmas tree, and wrap up such an enormous number of tiny tissue-covered bundles that her fingers ached from tying string.
There was the grand march around the tree, the gorgeous Christmas supper, and afterward dancing and dancing and dancing until Peggy’s head whirled and her very heart beat time to music.
On Christmas day there came for each of the girls a fascinating little package bearing the Huntington address on the outside. Katherine’s was a woven gold chain with a delicate and beautiful pearl pendant attached, and Peggy’s was a watch with a good sized diamond sparkling in its handwrought gold.