Mrs. Carr’s various combinations of apples, nuts, candles, rings, flour, and pails of water, that go to make up Hallowe’en tricks, produced more good-natured fun, especially when Miss Letty, after swinging it thrice over her head, threw the apple paring over her left shoulder, causing Anne to exclaim at the initial it made, which was promptly eaten by Tip, who loved fruit, before any one else could decipher it.
Then the stage and brake came up, and there was a search for wraps, while Anne was astounded and mystified to find Miss Letty hugging poor Happy and stuffing her with cold chicken. She had been shut up supperless in a back passageway because she had been disobedient and spoiled the hunt, and had also gone too near the skunk.
Mr. Hugh’s horse had been put up in Miss Jule’s stable, so he rode that far in the brake with the others, and stopped off to get him. As there was no reason why he should wait outside in the cold, he went in with Miss Jule, who hurried off to make some coffee (Anna Maria having retired), as she said, to “settle their wits, after too much supper and too much laughter,” leaving the two standing before the hall fire, feeling equally awkward. Colin and Hamlet, who had stayed at home, hearing voices, came racing from the kitchen hall and greeted Letty with an unfeigned joy that tumbled her hair down on her shoulders, while Tip, not to be outdone, sprang upon the back of a near-by chair and, paws on her shoulder, gave her a kiss on the tip of the nose.
“Love me, love my dog,” quoted Miss Letty, struggling with her pets, and, after the fashion of flustered people, meaning nothing in particular by her words.
“I do,” answered Mr. Hugh, promptly, having found himself at last.
“Ah!” was what Miss Jule said, when she returned with the coffee fifteen minutes later.
That night Miss Letty wrote a long letter to her Aunt Marie, telling her that she liked American customs so much that she had decided to remain in the country. The letter also said other things which prevented Aunt Marie from accusing Aunt Jule of unfair influence, which was quite fortunate.
Before the week was over everybody had heard the news, and everybody was glad, which was quite wonderful, and Tommy had the honour of being the messenger. This office he filled most thoroughly, adding details from time to time to entertain his hearers, that were certainly not a part of his commission.
Presently, one rainy day, Miss Letty herself came down, as Anne said, for a good talk, and before seating herself with the children and dogs on the hearth rug, she pulled a round bundle from her ulster pocket and tossed it to Anne, who exclaimed upon opening it, for out fell two beautiful silver bands, lined with chamois, upon which letters were engraved.
“Why, they are dog collars! Who are they for?” she exclaimed, holding them toward the light to read the letters.