Mrs. Perkins nodded her head vigorously, and looked unutterably wise.
"Maybe the cars is gone off the track," said the old lady.
"Oh, don't say such things, Mrs. Perkins," said Mrs. Bradford uneasily.
"I didn't say they had, but we're havin' a dreffle number of accidents nowadays."
"Ben is all right," said Tony, thinking he ought to defend his cousin. "He said when he went away, he'd come home right side up with care."
"Little boys should be seen and not heard," said Mrs. Perkins.
"'Always be prepared for the worst.' That's my motto."
"And my motto is 'Wait and Hope!'" said a familiar voice outside the door.
"It's Ben!" exclaimed Tony joyfully.
The door was thrown open and there stood Ben, with little Emma's hand in his.