read Billy. “Hurrah! That means that father is better than they even hoped and that they can all come sooner than they expected.”
“Why!” he exclaimed suddenly, “to-day is Tuesday! Isn’t it fine that the telegram came in good time!”
“Yes, indeed!” said Mary Frances. “And how happy I am.”
They hurried with their breakfast, and then went out to gather some flowers to decorate the house.
They were at the station half an hour too early for the train, and when at length it did pull in, you can imagine what a delightful time everyone had.
“It seems a thousand years since I last saw you, Father dear,” said Mary Frances, kissing him, “and a hundred since Mother and Aunt Maria left; doesn’t it, Billy?”
“Well,” laughed Billy, “it seems an awfully long time, if not a thousand years.”