She tied them up carefully in her little clean white handkerchief, and then she folded her hands in her lap and told Tommy everything that had happened since he left home.
The sky was red with the blaze of the setting sun when the carriage started. Overhead the crows were flying in a straight black line to the woods to roost. As Anne talked on, the fireflies began to shine against the blue-gray of the twilight; then came darkness and the stars.
"It seems awfully good to be at home," confessed Tommy, as the lights began to twinkle in the nearest farmhouse, "if only father won't scold."
"I think he will scold, Tommy—he was awfully angry—but your mother will be so pleased."
"It was horrid sleeping out at night and tramping days." Tommy was unburdening his soul. It was so easy to tell things to gentle, sympathetic Anne. "And the men around the wharf were so rough—"
"I am sure you won't want to go again," said little Anne, "not for a long time, Tommy."
Tommy looked around cautiously. He didn't want Judy to hear, somehow.
He was afraid of her teasing laugh. Then he leaned down close to
Anne's ear:
"I'll stay here for awhile, Anne."
"I'm so glad, Tommy," said Anne, with a sigh of relief.
But as they drove into the great gateway, and the lights from the big house shone out in welcome, Tommy sighed: