"Why, not often, dear. Isn't it pleasant that they don't? They make such a disorder. Now at your father's it is so different. Sid wants something mended, or Rob has lost something and wants you to find it, or Lily has lost your thimble, or the baby has upset your work-basket, or some confusion all the time. Now here we have such perfect quiet."
Lettie said nothing, but a few moments later she slipped quietly to her own room. Miss Patty smiled and said, "The cure is working."
One morning, while Miss Patty was busy in the garden, Lettie stole out, as she thought, unseen. But Miss Patty saw her, and ran around to the kitchen and said to Tibbie, "She's gone. Run to the station, and keep her in sight."
"Dear, dear! If the child should get lost!" said Tibbie, rolling down her sleeves. In a little while she came back, quite excited.
"If you please, Miss Patty, she's gone the other way. I went and asked Towne if she bought a ticket. He said yes, she bought a ticket for Redpath, then Sam Pierce said, 'If she did she went on the wrong train then, for she took the down.'"
"Well, don't worry, Tibbie. There are telegraphs, you know," throwing off her gardening attire. "Get me my bonnet and gloves."
In a few moments she had arranged with Towne, and paid for a return ticket from the other end of the road. A message was sent to the conductor of No. 7. "Send back young lady for Redpath. Mistake in train."
Then Miss Patty sent a telegram to Mr. Edmonds: "Lettie left this morning. Will be home in the evening." So there at the station were Sid and Rob with the spring wagon, and Lily perched up between them, clapping her hands at the sight of the engine. Lettie hugged them all three, crying and laughing, and then asked, "What are you doing down here?"
"Came to meet you," said Rob.
"How did you know I was coming?"