“I’m not thinking about that,” Kit sent back an understanding gleam of fun, “but I’m perfectly positive that it would do Uncle Cassius and Aunt Daphne an awful lot of good.”

“Then we must not deprive them of the opportunity.  Do you think so, Hiram?”

Hiram stuck his head through the clambering vines and clustering leaves, like a tousled freckle-faced New England faun.

“Couldn’t do no harm either way, s’far as I can see,” he said, judiciously.  “And if the old folks need any sort of discipline, I’d certainly start Miss Kit after them.”

CHAPTER V

SHEPHERD SWEETINGS

That was the end of August.  Cousin Roxy heartily approved of the plan, and said no doubt the fire down at Greenacres had been a direct dispensation of Providence.

“You were all of you settling down into a rut before it happened, and the old place needed a thorough going over anyhow.  You know you couldn’t have afforded it, Jerry, if it hadn’t been for the fire insurance money coming in so handy like.  Now, you’ll all move back the first part of the winter, with the new furnace set up, and no cracks for the wind to whistle through.  Jean will be started off on her path of glory, and I don’t think Kit’s a mite too young to be fluttering her wings a bit.  Land alive, Elizabeth, you ought to be so thankful that you’ve got children with any get up and get to them in this day and age.  The Judge and I were saying just the other night it seems as if most of the young folks up around here haven’t got any pluck or initiative at all.  They’re born to feel that they’re heirs of grace, and most of them are sure of having a farm or wood-lot in their own right, sooner or later.”

So the steamer trunk stood open most of the time, and Kit prepared for her pilgrimage to Delphi.  Mr. Robbins was inclined to take it as rather a good joke on the Dean, but the mother bird could not get over a certain little feeling of conscience in the matter, perhaps because she could remember her own visit with her uncle and aunt, and still retained a certain feeling of veneration for the two old people.  But the rest of the family pinned its faith on Kit’s persuasive adaptability.

Helen and Doris, especially, felt that, if anything, the Robbins family was conferring a high favor on the “Oracle of Delphi.”  Kit had always been the starter and organizer ever since they could remember, and Helen especially dreaded going back to school without her.

“Piney and Sally will go over with you,” Kit told her, cheerfully, “and just think of the wonderful letters you’ll have from me, Helenita.  Miss Cogswell says that I always shine best when I wield the pen of a ready writer, and I’ll tell you all the news of Hope College.  By the way, mother told me last night that she’s pretty sure in those little family colleges they run a ‘prep’ department, which takes in the last two years of high school.  Perhaps I could persuade them that the great-grandniece of Cassius Cato would be a deserving object of their consideration.  Don’t forget to pack my skates, Helen.  I loaned them to you last, and they’re hanging in your closet.”