Uncle John and Aunt Kate and Laura and Maud and Mary were looking on, and they knew what Ally was thinking of,—the very words of it,—by that sudden radiant smile upon her face; and Mary was so pleased thereat, she had to cry out,—
"Oh, what a jolly Thanksgiving this is! Could anything be added to make it jollier?"
But something was added. When they were all at the dinner-table that night,—mother and father and girls and the three boys who had just come up from their boarding-school that very morning,—this telegram was brought in from Uncle Tom,—
"Thanks for word of Ally's safety. All send love. Florence is writing to her."
Ally's eyes opened wide with astonishment at this conclusion. Florence! Aunt Kate read the meaning of that astonished look, and sent a glance to Ally that said as plainly as words could say, "You see, even Florence didn't mean as badly as you thought."
[AN APRIL FOOL.]
CHAPTER I.
"Yes, I have it here in my pocket. I'll show it to you when I get a chance."