Gradually the long platform that led up to the concourse cleared. Kit went slowly on, following the porter who carried her suitcase. She was looking for someone who might resemble either the Dean or Della from her father’s description of them.
“As I remember him,” Mr. Craig had said, “the Dean was very tall, rather sparely built, but broad-shouldered and always with his head up to the wind. His hair was gray and curly. Aunt Della was like a little bird, a gentle, plump, busy woman, with bright brown eyes and a little smile that never left her lips. I am sure you can’t mistake them, Kit, for in their way they are very distinctive.”
Yet Kit was positive now that neither the Dean nor his sister had come to meet her. She stood in the waiting room wearing a dark brown gabardine coat with a brown hat to match. There was about her an air of buoyant and friendly self-possession, which always endeared her to even casual acquaintances. Therefore it was no wonder that Rex Bellamy glanced at her several times with interest, even while his gaze sought through the crowd for a young New England boy, bound for Delphi, Wisconsin.
But Kit noticed Rex Bellamy. Noticed his alert anxiety as he walked up and down, eyeing every newcomer. He was eighteen or nineteen, and unmistakably looking for someone. Even while Kit watched, she saw a girl of about her own age hurry up to him. Her voice reached Kit plainly, as she said, “I’ve looked up and down that end, and I’m positive he isn’t there. Oh, but the Dean will lecture you, Rex, if you miss him.”
At this identical moment, Rex’s eyes met a pair of dancing, mischievous ones, and Kit crossed over to where they stood.
“I do believe you must be looking for me,” she said. “I’m Kit Craig.”
“Oh, but we were expecting your brother,” exclaimed the other girl, eagerly.
“I know, but you see my brother’s only twelve,” said Kit, “and the family thought he was too young to come. I begged to come instead. I’m afraid the Dean made a little mistake, didn’t he? Do you think he’ll mind so very much when he sees me?”
“Mind?” repeated Rex. “Why, I think he’ll be perfectly delighted. My name is Rex Bellamy, Kit, and this is my sister, Anne. We’re next-door neighbors of the Dean and Miss Della, and as we happened to be coming in town today they asked us to be sure to meet your—” Here he hesitated.
“My brother,” laughed Kit. “Well, here I am, and I only hope that Mother’s letter reached them this morning, explaining everything. Of course, they did write for a boy, and it takes so long for a letter to get out here and be answered, that I told Mom and Dad I knew it would be perfectly all right for me to come instead. Don’t you think it will be?”