“Dear old Friendly Terrace,” Amy murmured. “Seems as if we’d been away a year.”
“Well, we’ll be starting in ten days or so,” said Priscilla, with an air of trying to make the best of things.
Peggy flashed a surprised glance about the circle. “Girls, why, girls! I believe we’d all like to go home to-morrow! Then let’s.”
There was no doubt as to the popularity of the suggestion. The strain of those few hours when shadows darker than those of night hung over Dolittle Cottage, had implanted in the hearts of all the longing for home. In the clamor of eager voices there was no dissent, only questioning whether so hasty a departure were possible. And when this was decided in the affirmative, hilarity reigned.
“You must all stay to supper,” Peggy declared, overflowing in joyous hospitality. “There won’t be enough of anything to go around, but there’s any amount of things that must be eaten.” Graham and Jack accepted the invitation as a matter of course, and Lucy and Jerry yielded, after considerable insistence on Peggy’s part. And on the faces which surrounded the dinner-table, lengthened for the occasion by an extra leaf, there was little to call to mind the black dream of the night.
It was an unusual supper in many ways. There were only half a dozen ears of corn, and the lima beans served out a teaspoonful to a plate. It was understood that whoever preferred sardines to corned beef might have his choice, but that it was a breach of etiquette to take both. However, since several varieties of jellies and preserves graced the table, and there was an abundance of Mrs. Cole’s delicious bread, both white and brown, there was no danger that any one would rise from the meal with his hunger unsatisfied.
Peggy was busy planning while she ate. “Oh, dear, what in the world am I going to do with Hobo? I won’t leave him without a home, that’s sure. And I don’t know what Taffy’ll say to me if I bring back another dog.”
“I’ll take him off your hands,” said Jack Rynson.
Peggy leaned toward him with shining eyes. “Really? And would you like him? For I don’t want you to take him just to oblige me.”
Jack made haste to defend himself against such a charge. His home, it seemed, was on the outskirts of the city, and his mother sometimes complained that it was lonely, and would be glad, Jack was sure, of a good watch-dog. “And I’ll get Graham to give him a certificate on that score,” concluded Jack, with a meaning smile in the direction of his friend, who was always easily teased by references to the time when Hobo had rushed to the defence of Graham’s sister against Graham himself.