“It shall be,” smiled Mrs. Carson. “Wait, child. Wait just a little while.”
So, with a head full of new, rich ideas, the girl lay down to sleep that night in the “poppy room,” as the little bedroom opening off Carin’s was called. Poppies decorated the wall, were embroidered on the linen covers to dresser, chairs and bed, and the spirit of poppies, sleep, hovered lightly over the room.
The next day dawned beautifully—one of those Sundays which seem to have the very breath of holiness in them. Annie Laurie went with the Carsons to the Episcopal Church, and then they all drove over to the Methodist Church for the aunts. They could see the two, prim and starched, awaiting them on the high church steps, and Mr. Carson leaped from the carriage to assist the ladies down and to help them into his vehicle. Annie Laurie couldn’t help giving an affectionate chuckle at the labored propriety of their remarks. They had on their best dresses and they were determined to use their best language. But Mrs. Carson gave no sign that she perceived their stiffness. She chatted on in that winning way of hers, till even the proud and difficult Aunt Adnah felt at ease.
At dinner the conversation turned upon the “doll lady,” and Mr. Carson had an idea.
“I’ll tell you what we’ll do, we’ll hike it! We’ll trek it! We’ll mush-mush!”
“Papa,” Carin protested, “what ever do you mean?”
“Mean? I mean we’ll follow the long red road, every one of us. Your mother, Carin, and your friends Annie Laurie and Azalea, and Miss Zillah and Miss Adnah. We’ll take to the high road—in mountain wagons—and we’ll go gypsying. It’s the spring vacation—or we can make it so if we have a mind. What do you say, Miss Parkhurst? Shall we call it vacation? And will you go with us over the mountains?”
“I’ll call it vacation if you please, sir,” smiled Helena Parkhurst. “But if I have any time away from my duties, I’d love to go home to my mother. She’s very lonely without me.”
“You shall, then. Of course she’s lonely without you. But what do you say, ladies?” he asked, turning to Annie Laurie’s aunts.
Miss Adnah wiped her lips carefully before replying.