“Do let me speak to Miss Stuart, children,” Mrs. Thurston entreated, trying to extricate herself from four pairs of girlish arms.

“Come in, Miss Stuart,” she laughed.  “I hope you are not tired from your journey.  I cannot tell you what pleasure it gives me to see you and Mr. Stuart once more.”

Mr. Stuart gave Mrs. Thurston’s hand a little longer pressure than was absolutely necessary.  Mrs. Thurston blushed and finally drew her hand away.

“Look after Mr. Stuart, dear,” she said to Bab.  “He is to have the guest chamber upstairs.  I want to show Miss Stuart to her room.  I am sorry, Ruth, our little home is too small to give you a room to yourself.  You will have to be happy with Mollie and Bab.  Grace you are to stay to supper with us.  Your father will come for you after supper.  I had to beg awfully hard, but he finally consented to let you remain with us.  Our little reunion would not be complete without you.”

Mrs. Thurston took Miss Sallie into a charming room which she had lately renovated for her guest.  It was papered in Miss Stuart’s favorite lavender paper, had lavender curtains at the windows, and a bright wood fire in the grate.

“I hope you will be comfortable, Miss Stuart,” said little Mrs. Thurston, who stood slightly in awe of stately and elegant Miss Sallie.

For answer Miss Sallie smiled and looked searchingly at Mrs. Thurston.

“Is there any question you wish to ask me?” Mrs. Thurston inquired, flushing slightly at Miss Stuart’s peculiar expression.

“Oh, no,” smiled Miss Sallie.  “Oh, no, I have no question to ask you!”

It was seven o ’clock when the party sat down to supper, and after nine when they finally rose.  They stopped then only because Squire Carter arrived and demanded his daughter, Grace, whom he had to carry off, as he and her mother could bear to be parted from their child no longer.

Miss Sallie asked to be excused, soon after supper, as she was tired from her trip.  “I think the ‘Automobile Girls’ had better go to bed, too,” she suggested.  Then Miss Sallie flushed.  For she was so accustomed to telling her girls what they ought to do that she forgot it was no longer her privilege to advise Bab and Mollie when they were in their mother’s house.

Bab insisted on running out to their little stable to see if her beloved horse, “Beauty,” were safe and sound.  And, of course, Ruth and Mollie went with her.  But not long afterwards, the three girls retired to their room to talk until they fell asleep, too worn out for further conversation.

“I am not tired, Mrs. Thurston, are you?” Mr. Stuart asked.  “If you don’t mind, won’t you sit and talk to me for a little while before this cozy open fire?  We never have a chance to say much to each other before our talkative daughters.  How charming the little cottage looks to-night!  It is like a second home.”

Mrs. Thurston smiled happily.  “It makes me very happy to have you and Ruth feel so.  I hope you will always feel at home here.  I wish I could do something in return for all the kindness you have shown to my two little girls.”