In an instant Mrs. Redmond had read the despatch, while Amy asked anxiously, "Is it anything serious, mamma?"
"No, no, my child, far from it. I told you there was a probability that certain business would call me home a little earlier than we had planned. Well, the summons has come, and I ought to start to-morrow."
"Oh, I am so glad!" exclaimed Priscilla, with an expression of real delight.
"Why, I thought that you were enjoying yourself."
"Yes, Mrs. Redmond, so I am, but I shall be so happy to see mamma again, and the children. I had a letter from the twins yesterday, and they miss me dreadfully."
"Shall we go home through Clare? Shall we have a chance to see Yvonne?"
"And Pierre?" added Amy.
"And Eunice? Of course we could stay over one train at Wolfville," pleaded Priscilla.
"My dear children," remonstrated Mrs. Redmond, "I fear that you did not understand me. I must be in Boston as quickly as possible, and that means that we must take the direct boat from Halifax."
"All of us? Then Lucian and I will return to New England with hardly a glimpse of the real Acadia."