All turned; and Vinnie and Jack and Link ran out to look. They could scarcely believe their eyes.
"It can't be!" said Vinnie.
"Yes, it is," exclaimed Link; "it's her—it's her!"
"Who?" Caroline inquired anxiously, dreading some new calamity.
"Cecie! Cecie, sure as the world!" said two or three at once.
It was indeed the little invalid, who, though she had scarcely taken a step without help for many months, was actually coming down the road, walking, and walking fast, without even the crutch she had sometimes tried to use!
She was beckoning and calling. Jack and Vinnie and the boys ran to meet her. She was pale and very much excited, and it was some time before she could speak coherently.
"Radcliff!" was almost her first word.
"What about Radcliff? where is he?" Vinnie asked.
"Gone!"