"Only about two hours; and I must go back to-morrow. I've not much hope of finding Snowfoot here; but as I had a chance to ride in with a neighbor, I thought best to take advantage of it. Lucky I did! Why didn't you write and let somebody know you were coming?"
"I did write to my sister; but I didn't expect anybody to meet me here in Chicago, since I couldn't tell just when I should arrive."
"Where are you stopping?"
"On board the schooner that brought me. She is lying quite near here, at a wharf in the river."
"Can you stay on board till to-morrow?"
Vinnie thought the captain and his wife would be glad to keep her.
"Though it isn't very nice," she added, "now that they are discharging the cargo."
"Perhaps you had better go to the Farmers' Home, where my friend and I have put up," said Jack.
"You at the Farmers' Home! Why couldn't I have known it?" said Vinnie. "It was there I went to inquire for Long Woods people, and met that scape-grace. When do you go home?"
"We start early to-morrow morning. You can go with us as well as not,—a good deal better than not!" said the overjoyed Jack. "Nothing but a little load of groceries. You shall go home with me to North Mills; Mrs. Lanman will be glad to see you. Then I'll drive you over to Long Woods in three or four days."