"Hello, messmates!" called the boy in greeting.
"Hello," answered Bunny. "Is my father here?"
"No, he just went home," said Bunker. "Didn't you meet him?"
"No," answered Sue, with a shake of her head. "We didn't see him, and we just came from home."
"Well, maybe he had to stop at a store first," said Bunker.
"Did he have our pony?" asked Bunny eagerly. "Maybe he stopped in a store to get the harness, Sue!"
"Or the cart!" added Bunny's sister.
Bunker Blue smiled and shook his head.
"No," he said slowly. "I'm sorry, but your father didn't get any pony. He had a letter from a man he wrote to about one, but this man didn't have any to sell."
"Oh, dear!" sighed Bunny. "I don't guess we're ever going to have that pony!"