She spoke bravely and truthfully, yet afterward when in her little chamber the conversation recurred to her, Randy found herself wondering if the meeting between herself and these girls who were to be her classmates during her stay in Boston would, after all, be as delightful as she had fondly believed.

Randy’s pleasure at the thought of meeting them had been genuine, and so friendly and sincere was she, that until the idea was suggested by Dot Marvin it had never occurred to her that the meeting could be aught but delightful.

“I ought not to think that there could be anything which is not charming where Miss Dayton is, and I believe I’m silly to let Dot’s remarks make me the least bit uneasy.  I’ll start intending to like every girl I meet, and who knows?  Perhaps I shall,” she said with a laugh, and a nod at her happy face reflected in the tiny mirror.

During all the planning and preparation for Randy’s departure, Prue had been eager to see the pretty new dresses, had insisted upon seeing the hats and gloves, and had talked of little else at home or at school.  Indeed, the little girl had been so happy in the thought of the promised pleasure for her sister, that she had not seemed to realize how much the parting would really mean.

But when the morning arrived on which Randy was to start, and dressed in her smart gray suit she stood waiting for her trunk to be placed in the back of the wagon, Prue seemed all at once to understand that Randy’s long stay in Boston meant loneliness for her little self.  As the thought swept through her mind, its full meaning came to her, and she did what she had never been known to do in all her sunny little life.  Throwing herself upon the great braided rug near the door she cried out,

“O Randy, my Randy, I can’t let you go!”

Randy stooped and gathered the dear little sister to her breast, saying,

“I’m not going to stay always, dear.  Look up, Prue, while I tell you.  I’ll write you nice long letters, and you shall write to me, and I’ll send you something ’way from Boston.  Won’t that be nice?  Come, kiss me, Prue.  I want to think of you smiling instead of crying, dear.”

Choking back her sobs, Prue made a brave effort to smile, but it was not much of a success, and Randy found it difficult to say good-bye with even a semblance of cheerfulness.  She possessed a singularly loving and tender nature, and this was the first time that she had left home, so that while her heart was full of anticipation, it was impossible for her to go without feeling keenly the parting.

Tears filled her sweet eyes, as turning to her mother she said,

“The planning has been so delightful, and I have been anticipating so much that I have looked forward to this morning when I should start, but now the time has come I almost wish I’d never said I’d go.”

“I know just how ye feel, Randy,” said Mrs. Weston, “an’ I must say ’twas easier ter plan ter have ye go than ter say good-bye.  Ye must cheer up, though, and look bright an’ happy when ye meet Miss Dayton in Boston.  The long ride in the cars will be new to ye, and ye must remember that yer Aunt Prudence is ter be with us while ye’re away, ter help me an’ ter keep me from bein’ too lonesome, fer mercy knows how I shall miss ye.