“What road, Kit?” asked Doris. They leaned around her, fascinated at her sudden store of information.
“Any road you please. Central Vermont up to Plainfield, or Providence line over to South Elmhurst. There’s South Elmhurst and East Elmhurst and Elmhurst Green and Elmhurst Station. It really doesn’t seem to matter which way you go so long as it lands you at one of the Elmhursts. And Elmhurst Station is five miles from Elmhurst, Plainfield is seven miles, Boulderville is—”
“Oh, please, Kit, quit it,” Jean cried, both hands over her ears. “We’ll drive over anyway. Didn’t you know that Dad and I are going to take the car up first before the rest of you? We’re going to sell Mother’s car,” said Jean. “The Phelpses are going to buy it. Bob told me so.”
“Dad says it will pay nearly all moving expenses and keep us for months. What else could he do? Besides, we’ll still have one car, that’s enough. At least we won’t be completely marooned. He’d sell that one too only it’s an absolute necessity to have one. We’re going to have to buy a trailer, too, for hauling things. Anyway I want a horse to ride, don’t you, Kit?”
“Isn’t it queer,” Doris broke in, “when a father breaks down, it just seems as if a home caves in.”
“Well, it doesn’t do any such thing, Doris,” responded Kit stolidly. “It may seem to, but it doesn’t. Even if we are going to live five miles from nowhere with the eye of Rebecca forever resting upon us, there’ll be lots of fun ahead. What’s that about the world making a pathway to your door? I’m going to be famous some day and there’ll be a nice, well-worn path leading from New York up to Elmhurst, worn by the feet of faithful admirers.”
“It’s so nice having one genius in the family,” Jean answered, leaning her chin on one hand. “Now I don’t mind leaving the house behind, or the car, or anything like that. But it’s the people I like best that I can’t take up with me. Who will we know there, I wonder?”
“Human beings anyhow,” Doris stated. “We’ll make oodles of new friends. Besides, lots of the girls have promised to visit us. We’re not going to be lonesome.”
6. Pulling Up Stakes
It had been suggested that Kit and Jean stay behind to finish their schooling. They could board at the Phelpses’ home next to Sandy Cove along the shore road, but both girls begged to go with the family.