"We'd better start home. It will take some time to make the jam and get Mrs. Kump's basket ready," said Laura.
Mat made a horn of his hands and gave a yell.
"What's that for?"
"To call our party in."
"We don't want everybody in the field; we're all here but Alene and Hugh."
"Where are they? Haven't seen 'em for some time! Ah, here they come!"
"Hugh took me over to see a thrush's nest," explained Alene. Her face glowed with animation beneath Nettie's pink lined bonnet; her lips and fingers were stained with berries and Laura asked herself if this could be the white-cheeked, forlorn, little Peggy-Alone she had seen standing beside Prince on the terrace just a couple of months before.
They trooped gaily into the carriage, Mat again took the reins and away they went on the return trip.
They came into the town by a different route, which led past the Ramseys' buff cottage.
"There's Vera and her mother and some ladies sitting on the porch," remarked Alene.