I must stop now; papa wants me to go out with him. Give my love to all, and tell Mother Blossom and Rose I will write them more particulars in a few days.
If you come to New York, you know a room will be ready for you in the home of your
Loving friend,
HAZEL CLYDE.
There was silence for a while in the room; then Mr. Blossom spoke:
"How are you going, Chi?"
"I 'm goin' to jog along down with Fleet, 'n' take it kind of easy--thought I 'd cross the Mountain, 'n' strike in on the old post-road; 'n' follow on down by old Ticonderogy,--I 've always wanted to see that,--then across to Saratogy 'n' Albany, 'n' foller the river. You can't go amiss of New York if you stick to that."
Again there was a prolonged silence. Chi hemmed, and moved uneasily on his chair, while he fumbled about in his trousers' pocket. He pulled out a piece of crumpled, yellow paper.
"S'pose I might just as well make a clean breast of it." He tried to laugh, but it was a failure. "Jack's telegram came along last night, 'n' I thought, maybe I 'd better be gettin' my duds together to-night, Mis' Blossom, as 't will be a mighty early start--before any of you are up," he added, hastily.
The two women broke down then, and Mr. Blossom and March followed Chi out to the barn.