She held out a long package that defied guessing as to its contents, so Natalie took it and laughed merrily with the others.
“And I brought your favorite nourishment, Nat. One of mother’s ‘chocklate’ layercakes,” said Norma.
“Oh, my goodness! How shall I carry it without mashing the icing?” exclaimed Natalie, managing, however, to place the square box upon her arm where it was carefully balanced.
“And I, Nat,” said Frances, “feared you would lack fruit on the farm, and so I tried to start you with a supply from the New York orchards.”
It takes little to make a merry heart laugh, and at each silly schoolgirl speech made with the gift Natalie laughed so heartily that it was contagious.
“All aboard!” called the conductor, consulting his timepiece and waving Mrs. James into the coach.
“Good-by! Good-by!” shouted five girls, and Natalie was bundled into the train and found herself watching the girls as the train receded from the station.
After she was seated and had tested the box of candies Belle had given her, Natalie saw Mrs. James deeply interested in a paper-covered book.
“What’s the name of it?” asked she, handing the candy-box across the aisle to Rachel.
“Looks like candy,” replied Rachel, thinking the girl was speaking to her.