"I got promoted, too," cried Shirley proudly. "I got a silver star on my card. And now I'm in the second grade."
Jack looked at Rosemary. She nodded happily.
"Passed in everything," she said. "Even history. Won't it be fun to be in the grammar graduating class next term!"
"Well I passed, myself," announced Jack. "Watch me pick out that fishing rod. And the garden won't see much of me this summer, I can tell you that."
"Mother will be so pleased," said Rosemary, as Jack went on to his house, and the three girls mounted the steps of the Willis home. "She likes us to do well in school, and Hugh was never kept back a single year. She would like us to follow his record, I know."
"The house looks kind of nice, doesn't it?" said Sarah unexpectedly. Comment of that kind was unusual with her.
The house did look "nice," its rich cream color showing up the vivid green of the shrubbery and the velvety surface of the well-kept lawn. The new rose bushes were bearing well and Doctor Hugh had managed new green and white striped awnings for the porch.
"I wish Mother could see the roses," said Rosemary as they went in.
The late afternoon June sunshine streamed in through the hall window and made a broad band to the stairway which was in shadow. Voices sounded in the living room.
"Hugh's home!" cried Sarah, her quick eyes darting to the hall table where a man's hat and a light leather bag lay together with a woman's hat and veil.