With her basket on her arm, Grace turned her steps in the direction of the old house. She had not been there since the day of their reunion. She smiled to herself as she recalled the absurdities of that occasion.
After traversing the orchard several times and finding nothing startling in the way of specimens, Grace concluded that she might as well have stayed at home.
She walked slowly over to the steps and sat down, placing the basket beside her. "How lonely it seems here to-day," she thought. "I wonder where old Jean is? I haven't seen him for an age." Then she fell to musing over the school year so nearly ended. Everything that had happened passed through her mind like a panorama. It had been a stormy year, full of quarrels and bickerings, but it was about to end gloriously. Anne and Miriam had become the best of friends, while she and Julia Crosby were daily finding out each other's good qualities There was nothing left to be desired.
Grace started from her dream and looked at her watch. It was after six o'clock. She had better be getting back.
She rose and reached for her basket.
Suddenly a figure loomed up before her. Grace started in surprise, to find herself facing a tall, thin man with wild, dark eyes. He stood with folded arms, regarding her fixedly.
Grace Found Herself Facing a Tall, Thin Man.
"Why, where——" but she got no further, for the curious new-comer interrupted her.
"Ah, Josephine," he said, "so I have found you at last."