Just as grandmother and Jane were about to start, Letty appeared in the pony carriage to take them. Grandmother decided, therefore, to let Jane go back with Letty and she could follow later. But she remembered some jelly that she wished to send to Mrs. Hartwell-Jones and asked the children to wait while she had it packed. Jane was glad of the delay, for she wanted a chance to make up with Christopher if possible, and he had gone down to the stable to help Perk harness the horse. They drove up presently, Christopher looking so supremely happy that Jane was obliged to acknowledge that her unforgiving words had not altogether spoiled his afternoon.
“Good-bye, Kit, I hope you’ll have a good time,” she said a little wistfully.
“Thanks, Janey; wish you were going along,” replied Christopher graciously. “But girls can’t do everything that boys can, you know. Some day we’ll have a picnic for the ladies, won’t we, grandfather?” he added politely.
Grandfather kissed Jane and lifted her into the pony carriage beside Letty.
“Have a nice time at the author-lady’s, little Jane, and if you miss Kit very much, just let me know and I’ll make him go along next time to rock your baby to sleep. He’s not a man quite yet, you know.”
“He thinks he’s awful smart, though,” she replied to her grandfather, and stuck out her tongue resentfully at Christopher over Mr. Baker’s shoulder.
“Just the same, you’re not allowed to go alone,” she taunted.
Christopher refused to have his spirits damped.
“Grandfather is only going so that I can show him how well I know how to swim. And he’s not so bad as having girls tagging along,” he answered coolly.
And grandfather felt that the apron-strings were indeed untied!