Things were in this state, when one evening Maria came up to bed and burst out as soon as she had got into the room,—
"Think of it! They are going to New York to-morrow."
Matilda was bewildered, and asked who was going to New York.
"They. Aunt Erminia and Clarissa. To be gone all day! Hurrah! We'll have just what we like for dinner, and I'll let the kitchen fire go out."
"Are they going down to New York to-morrow?" said Matilda, standing and looking at her sister.
"By the early train. Don't you hear me tell you?"
"I thought it was too good news to be true," said Matilda, drawing a long breath.
"It is, almost; but they are going. They are going to do shopping. That's what it's for. And I say, Matilda, won't we have a great dinner to get!"
"They will want dinner after they get home."
"No, they won't. They will take dinner somehow down there. Why they will not be home, Tilly, till nine o'clock. They can't. The train don't get up till a quarter-past eight, that train they are going to take; and they will have to be an hour pretty near riding up from the station. Hurrah! hurrah!"