“She was rather pretty, I think, wasn’t she?” said Kitty musingly, as they strolled up and down the platform waiting for the train.

“She was awfully skinny,” said Dan.

“Will Anna be bigger than me?” asked Tony, who did not remember her.

“Oh yes, she is as old as Dan, I think; but I always feel as though she were older even than I am.  She used to seem so grown-up and clever, and she always did the right thing; and, oh dear, how dreadful it will be if she is still the same.”

Tony sighed.  “I wish there was somebody little, like me, to play with,” he said wistfully; “somebody as young as me.”

“But, Tony darling, you don’t feel you want some one else, do you?  Why, we all play with you,” cried Kitty reproachfully.

“Yes, I know; but you only pretend.  You don’t think things are really-truly, like I do.”

“But I do, dear, I do, really; only yours are fairies and giants, and mine are knights and kings and ladies,” and her thoughts flashed right away from the busy station, with its brick platform and gleaming rails, the ordinary-looking men and women pacing up and down, and the noise and rattle of the place, to the quiet, still woods and hurrying river, with their mystery and calm, and to those other men and women pacing so stately amidst the silence and beauty.  But Tony, tugging at her hand, very soon brought her abruptly back to her real surroundings.

“It is coming! it is coming!” he cried.  “I hear it.”

And a moment later, with a fast-increasing roar, the engine rounded the curve, and gradually slowing down, drew up alongside the platform.

Mrs. Pike was one of those persons who keep their seats until all other passengers have left the carriage, and make every one belonging to them do the same; and Kitty and Dan had twice walked the whole length of the train, and were just turning away, not quite certain whether they felt relieved or not at seeing no sign of their travellers, when they heard a well-remembered voice calling to them, and, turning, saw their aunt standing in a carriage doorway, beckoning to them as frantically as an armful of parcels and bags would allow her.  She retreated when she had attracted their attention, and in her place there stepped from the carriage a tall, lanky girl, who was evidently very shy and embarrassed at being thrust out alone to greet her strange cousins.

It was Anna.  Though she had grown enormously, they knew her in a moment, for the thin white face was the same, the restless eyes, the nervous fidgeting movements of the hands and feet and body.  Her straight, light hair had grown enormously too; it was a perfect mane now, long, and thick, and heavy—­too heavy and long, it seemed, for the thin neck and little head.  Kitty eyed it enviously, though; her own dark hair was frizzy and thick as could be, but it never had grown, and never would grow more than shoulder length, she feared, and she did so admire long, straight, glossy hair.