“One is never small, wherever he may be, in the hearts of his friends, Jotham,” was the sweet reply, “but in regard to home, there is no place like it.  I enjoy all the brightness, the study, the fine pictures which I have seen and the rare music which I have heard; but, Jotham, I am at heart a country girl, and while I like to be here, if I were to choose ‘for always,’ as little Prue says, I’d choose the mountains and the streams at home.

“I shall not leave behind the knowledge which I have gained.  I shall be all the happier because of it, but home is home, isn’t it, Jotham?”

“Indeed it is,” answered Jotham, heartily.

And now the carriages were beginning to arrive, and in twos and threes the guests departed, assuring Randy and Helen that the evening had been one of rare pleasure.

Jotham and his tutor left together, promising their charming hostesses that they should soon find leisure for a call.  And when the last guest had departed, and Randy, Helen, and Aunt Marcia looked about the flower scented rooms, Randy said, with a happy sigh,

“Oh, what a lovely, lovely party!  I was sorry to see them go.  I am not even tired.  No one could be tired during such an evening.”

“Dear Randy,” said Helen, “it was indeed a pretty party, and well worth my effort to make it a success.  You were an ideal little hostess, Randy, you did your part to perfection.”

“Why, I was only just myself.  I was not at all fine,” said Randy in amazement.

“That is just the secret of your success,” Helen replied.  “Always be just your own true self, and no one in all the world would ask for more.”

CHAPTER XI

TIMOTHEUS AND HIS NEIGHBORS

“Whao!  Whao!  I tell ye.  Be ye deef, or be ye jest contrary?

“I b’lieve them critters ’d like ter see me wait ’til June fer plaoughin’.”

The ill-matched pair came to a standstill, and so listless was their bearing, that one would say that having decided to halt, nothing would induce them to again draw the plough.

“There, ye can rest naow, fer a spell, ’til ye git yer wind, an’ then I’ll set ye at it agin.”

One of the horses snorted derisively, but Jabez Brimblecom cared little for that.  He drew from his hip pocket a large envelope, and opening the letter which it contained, adjusted his spectacles and laboriously read it for the third time.

“Wal, all I got ter say ’baout it is, that it’s pooty full er big words, an’ flourishes, but biled daown, it ’maounts ter jist this; Sabriny’s sot her mind on makin’ us an’ everlastin’ long visit.  I shan’t hev ter stand much on’t, however; I’ll be aout doors most of the time, when I have ter, an’ I vum I’ll be aout all the rest of the time because I choose ter.

“Sabriny’s a team, an’ so’s Mis’ Brimblecom.  They never did pull together.  Not but that they pull ’nough, only it’s allus the opposite ways.  I don’t stay in doors much arter she arrives!  No, Siree!