The road Polly had chosen led through an avenue of old elms and thence out into the wide country. Past the city milepost, not far distant from the Home, a little brook purled along, overswept by willows.
"Isn't this beautiful!" cried Miss Major. "And here are raspberries—oh!"
The party broke ranks and scattered among the bushes, eager for the fruit that was just in its prime.
"Do you suppose they belong to anybody?" queried Mrs. Prindle, a bit anxiously.
"If they do they don't love 'em a whole lot," Miss Crilly returned. "See those! They are so ripe they almost fall to pieces lookin' at 'em! But they're sweet as sugar!" She plumped them into her mouth.
Soon they strolled forward by two's and three's, but long before the young folks and a few others had begun to be tired, several were lagging behind. Miss Twining among them.
"Are you coming back this way, Polly?" she called.
"Why, I thought we wouldn't. What's the matter?"
"Used up," she smiled.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I've gone too far, haven't I? You sit down somewhere and rest, and I'll stay with you. The others can go on, if they like."