Two days later, when Mr. Marion came back, he went out to the barn to find Lee. The boy had just scrambled out of a haymow with his hat full of eggs. His face was beaming.
"I've learned to milk," he said proudly, "and I rode to the post-office this afternoon, horseback."
"Do you like it here, my boy?" asked Mr. Marion.
"Like it!" repeated Lee, emphatically. "Well I should say! Mr. Hartmann is just the grandfatheriest old grandfather I ever knew, and they're all so good to me."
It proved to be a very eventful journey for the boy; for after some discussion about his board, it was arranged that he should come back to the farm after the holidays.
"Do I have to wait till then?" he asked. "Why couldn't I stay right on, now I'm here. You could send my clothes to me, and it wouldn't cost near as much as to go home first."
"What will Bethany say?" asked Mr. Marion. "She is planning for a big tree and lots of fun Christmas."
"But papa won't be there," pleaded Lee. "I'd so much rather stay here than go back to town and find him gone."
"Then you shall stay," exclaimed Miss Carlotta, touched by the expression of his face. "We'll have a tree here. You can dig one up in the woods yourself."