“Oh, Mrs. Baker,” exclaimed Letty in distress, “I don’t believe anything serious has happened. Mrs. Carpenter said she thought that they had just forgotten about the time; she said boys never could keep track of the time when they were off on a picnic; and she did not seem at all worried about Billy.”
“She was just cross,” added Jane. “She said she was going to spank him when he did get home. Shall you spank Kit, grandmother?”
“Bless the boy, he will have to be punished some way,” replied Mrs. Baker, drying her tears. “If only he comes home safe and sound,” she added mournfully, watching the carriage disappear down the road into the dusk. “Letty dear, don’t you think you would better start back home? There is enough worry on hand without giving Mrs. Hartwell-Jones a fright about you.”
“I don’t believe she will worry, Mrs. Baker. She said I might stay as long as I could be of any use here and I should like to wait until Kit gets back,” answered Letty earnestly. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Just talk a bit, you and Jane,” said grandmother, “if you think it all right to remain. It will keep my mind off imagining all sorts of horrors about that blessed boy. How did the party go off, Janey, dear? I haven’t asked a single word about it.”
Jane was in the middle of an elaborate account of the party when they were interrupted by the sound of wheels. Grandmother had been sitting on the veranda steps with Jane in her lap and Letty on another step close beside them.
“Can Joshua be coming back for something?” exclaimed grandmother, rising.
Jane had already climbed out of her lap and was running down the drive.
“It’s Kit, it’s Kit!” she cried joyfully.
Grandmother kissed Christopher first, and cried over him. Then she took him aside and gave him a long, serious lecture. Christopher knew that he had been disobedient, but he did not realize that he had also been selfish until grandmother pointed out to him how much upset every one had been by his long absence.