“Grandfather always says that girls don’t have to consider such things,” said Polly, thoughtfully.
“He wouldn’t if he lived out here. Our girls study their political economy and civil government, and it trains them for the issues they will meet later. Hark, that’s the express. I hear it whistle. Let’s hurry.”
“There’s the Chief, and Mrs. Sandy too, at the station,” said Sue, who was ahead. “They are waving to us.”
“How are you, chickens?” called Mrs. Sandy cheerily to them, as they came to the platform. “I had to do some town shopping, so we killed two birds with one stone. Looks like we might have a thunder shower, doesn’t it?”
“That’s blowing to the north, Di,” the Chief put in, placidly. “You can see its shiny lining now.”
The express came swinging down the track, and stopped. Few passengers got off at Deercroft, so it was not hard to find the Doctor. Third coach to the last, they saw him, as the porter put the stool down for him to alight. He turned at their quick call, and waved his hand, but all his attention was centered on some one who was coming down the steps, some one rather tall, and dressed in silver gray, even to the long gray veil that was draped about her hat.
And suddenly, in one flash of recognition, the girls knew the Doctor’s surprise.
But Mrs. Sandy did not. There she stood, smiling happily at the pleasure of the girls, supremely unconscious and unprepared. She saw the tall, slender, stately old lady behind the figure of the Doctor, but did not associate her with him, not until the girls surrounded both, and were kissed and shaken by the hand. It was Polly who put her arm around the figure in gray, and led her where Mrs. Sandy stood, her Chief beside her.
“Here she is, Miss Honoria,” Polly said, with shining eyes that filled with quick tears as the two faced each other after more than thirty-five years. Honoria held out both hands. Her voice trembled with emotion.
“Sister,” was all she could say, “sister, I had to come, too.”