She was rather glad of the opportunity to study the slender, bright-faced girl opposite.
“How near everything is to everything else, Aunt Lucinda,” Blue Bonnet said at last.
Miss Clyde smiled. “We don’t run much to space here, Elizabeth. There, that is our last stop before Woodford. You will be glad to have your long journey really over.”
At Woodford the old family carriage was waiting. Denham, the coachman, smiled welcomingly at Blue Bonnet. “’Deed and I’m glad to see Miss Elizabeth’s girl,” he said.
Blue Bonnet smiled back in friendly fashion. “Did he know Mamma, Aunt Lucinda?” she asked, wonderingly.
“Denham has been with us for more than twenty years, Elizabeth,” Miss Clyde answered.
There were not many passengers for the sleepy little station. Blue Bonnet felt herself the object of interest for the group of loungers gathered about the platform.
To the girl the old tree-shaded village, with its air of quiet content, its one wide principal street, with pleasant by-ways straggling off at irregular intervals from it, was very attractive, and very interesting as well, when contrasted with the little bare prairie town at home. She quite enjoyed the slow, leisurely drive in the comfortable old carry-all; she could not imagine any one dashing up that sober quiet street. And when, at last, they turned into a broad, well-kept drive, and she caught sight, across the smooth stretch of green lawn, of the big white house, she drew a quick breath of content; it was all in such perfect keeping.
Miss Clyde saw the look in Blue Bonnet’s eyes and an answering smile showed in her own. “Your mother was very fond of the old place, Elizabeth,” she said; “we are very glad to have her daughter come home to it.”
On the steps Mrs. Clyde was waiting, and to her Blue Bonnet’s heart went out instantly.