“What’s the matter, Prue,” said Hi, “I want yer ter play squat tag with us.”

“I don’t want to play,” said Prue, “I want my Randy.”

“But she’s in Boston, ain’t she?” asked Hi.

“Yes, and I want her, I’m tired of going to school without her.”

“I’m tired of goin’ ter school at all,” said Hi.  Then a peculiar light appeared in his small black eyes.

“I’ll tell yer what we’ll do,” said he, “We’ll go and see Randy, you ’n me.  I know the way to the deepot, Prue, Yes sir, we’ll go’n see Randy.  I guess she’ll be glad ’nough ter see us ’n wont you be glad to see her, though?”

Little Prue’s eyes grew round with delight.  Since Randy was to be away from home, of course the best thing would be to go to her.

“Do you truly know the way?” asked Prue, eagerly, laying her little hand upon Hi’s arm.

“Guess I do.  Ain’t I been to the deepot times ’nough?” was the confident reply.  “You jest come ‘long with me, Prue, an’ I tell ye we’ll find your Randy.  I’m bigger’n you be ’n I know.”

“When will we go, Hi?” asked Prue, now confident that her little champion could take her safely to Randy.

“Now,” said Hi, “right off now.  I don’t know my lessons, so I don’t want ter go back ter school, an’ teacher’s a ringin’ the bell this minute.  Pick up yer lunch basket, I’ve got some cookies I hooked out ’n the cupboard an’ a big apple that Belindy gave me, an’ we’ll eat ’em when we’re in the cars.”  So the two children trudged down the road; Prue happier than she had been for days because of the delightful prospect of seeing Randy, and Hi, knowing that he was naughty in staying away from school, but easing his little conscience by thinking that he was comforting Prue.

It was true that he was larger than Prue, but they were of the same age, and as unlike as two children could possibly be.

Prue was lovely in face and disposition, small of her age and graceful in her movements.  Hi was a plain, sturdy looking country boy; stubborn, full of mischief and large for a boy of six.

Down the road they walked, a resolute little pair; Prue chattering and laughing, Hi rather silent until well out of sight of the schoolhouse, when his spirits rose and he cheered the way by telling his little companion wonderful tales of the delights of a journey in the cars.

Having twice enjoyed a long car ride, he considered himself quite a traveled personage, and he continued to enlarge upon the pleasures of the trip to Boston until Prue’s eyes danced, and she skipped along the road unable from sheer delight to walk without an occasional little hop.

“If we stay with Randy, we won’t have ter go ter school,” said Hi, “an’ you’n me can play all day.”

“And see my Randy every day,” said Prue, “and oh, Hi, you don’t know how lovely she looked in her new clothes she had to go to Boston with.”