Outside the train, it was quite dark. Connie, who was the first to alight, looked up and down the platform.
“Where’s Grandfather Gordon?” she asked. “Isn’t he here?”
No one was in sight except the depot agent and a boy who was hauling luggage from the baggage car ahead.
Then Connie saw a man in a heavy overcoat and cap walking toward her. His face was covered with a warm muffler.
“Well, well!” he exclaimed, grasping her firmly by the waist and swinging her off the platform. “If it isn’t Sunny Davidson!”
“No, I’m Connie Williams,” the little girl laughed. “Sunny’s just getting off the train now.”
“I’m Jane Tuttle,” announced Jane, who had followed close behind Connie.
Grandfather Gordon gave her long golden braids a friendly tweak, and turned to say hello to Rosemary, Sunny and Eileen.
“And who is sober-face?” he asked, gazing at Veve as she stepped down from the train just ahead of Miss Gordon.
“I’m Veve McGuire,” she told him, not even trying to smile. She was thinking about the luggage check.