"Anything you wish, Adele," answered Beatrice impatiently. "Only let's hurry. Aunt Annie won't like it if we loiter too long after knowing about father."
Adele complied willingly, and the rest of the distance was accomplished quickly. Bee paused at the orchard gate.
"Listen how the birds are singing," she cried. "Do you suppose that they know that father is coming?"
"You goosey!" laughed her cousin. "They were singing when we went out."
"Not like this, Adele. Just listen!"
A riot of happiness in quivering bursts of song came from the leafy boughs of the trees. Cardinal, oriole, tawny thrush and gold-finch seemed to vie with each other in pouring forth the sweetest melody.
"How happy they are," cried Bee. "Almost as happy as I am. And it was just here that the butterfly lighted on my head. I'll always believe that omen after this because I did have good news. Why, there is auntie!"
"What news, children?" called Mrs. Raymond as she came through the trees toward them.
"The best in the world," answered Beatrice waving her letter excitedly. "Father is coming home! He will be here by the Fifteenth of June, and we are to go over to our house to get things ready for him. Will you go? Will Uncle Henry be able to leave court, and come too?"
"William coming home?" Mrs. Raymond stopped in her surprise. "Is it possible? What does he say? Let me read the letter."