“What? What?” cried those nearest.
“Ain’t we goin’?” queried a worried little voice.
Russell was already leaping after Polly, while Lilith reassured the anxious tot. In a moment the two runaways reappeared in the doorway, Russell carrying Polly’s forgotten lunch basket.
This made the grown folks laugh. Then everybody said good-bye. There was a waving of hands, the cars burr-r-ed and sizzed and smoked; there were more good-byes and hand-wavings—and they were on the long way to Overlook.
Reaching Prattsboro Polly Dudley’s car whirled ahead of the procession and speeded around to the little gray house.
Dolly Merrifield was at the window, ready from hat to shoe, and even more radiant than usual.
“I never was so taken back in my life,” declared Aunt Sophie, looking up from the suitcase she was strapping. “I got a letter from Sardis just now, telling why he didn’t answer mine. He hadn’t got it! And to think your father should take the trouble to write! Well, if he hadn’t, Dolly could not have gone—that’s all. I’m mighty glad he did, and we all are. Why, Sardis says he went to the post-office and there wasn’t any letter from me. You see, it got mixed up with somebody else’s mail, and he hadn’t got it even then; but he’d heard about it, though. Such doings!
“According to Sardis, anything your father says, goes. I didn’t know he knew him; but it seems he’d heard all about him—when he was down at Yale, I guess. He says he wouldn’t have Dolly miss it for anything. Dear me, this string ain’t long enough! I’ll have to tie a piece on. Thank you. Guess my fingers are nervous. There, that’s all! My! all those autos going? Won’t you have a splendid time! How far’d you say it was?”
“About a hundred and forty miles.”
“My!” ejaculated Mrs. Edmonson again. “Well, you’ve got a lovely day. You’ll let me know how Dolly stood it, won’t you?” she asked a bit anxiously as she followed the others to the sidewalk.