So little Prue sat beside Randy and listened to all which she had to tell with the greatest interest.

“Oh, I wish Johnny Buffum was here to hear all ’bout Boston,” sighed Prue, “then he’d know what a big girl my Randy is,” and the little girl wondered why they laughed.

At tea she led Randy to the table and exclaimed,

“There, didn’t I say the cake had pink frosting onto it?” and Randy agreed that it was indeed pink and that it looked very tempting.

Mrs. Weston and Aunt Prudence had arranged a fine little spread, composed of Randy’s favorite dishes and as she looked at the dear faces around the table, she knew that she could not be happier at the grandest feast, though it were given in her honor in palatial halls.

* * * * *

“Randy is here, Randy is here!” It seemed as if each person as soon as he learned the news, repeated it to his neighbor, and that neighbor repeated it to the next person whom he chanced to meet on the road, and soon the entire village knew that Randy was once more at home.

Prue followed her about as if she feared to lose sight of her, and promised to recite an endless number of lessons to Randy if only she might be permitted to stay out of school.

“I can’t go to school and not see my Randy all day.  I don’t want to be anywhere where my Randy isn’t.”  Prue pleaded so earnestly that at last Mr. Weston said,

“It is so near the end er the term, why not let her stay at home, mother?”

Even Aunt Prudence interceded for her, and Prue’s joy was unbounded when she was told that she might consider that her vacation had commenced.

The day after Randy’s return was bright and sunny, and with little Prue she wandered beneath the sweet scented apple blossoms drinking in their beauty, and wondering if in all the world there was a fairer place than the orchard with its wealth of bloom, when suddenly Prue exclaimed,

“You’re ’most as glad to see me as anybody, Randy?

“Me ’n Tabby is just ’special glad you’ve got home.”  The little eyes looked anxiously up into Randy’s face.

“You precious little sister,” Randy answered, “I’ve been longing all winter to see you, and when I have sat before the fire with Miss Dayton on a stormy afternoon I have wished that Tabby with her paws tucked in, sat blinking at the flames.  There is no one, Prue, whom I am more truly glad to see than you.”

While Randy and Prue were in the orchard, Mrs. Hodgkins “ran in fer a chat,” as she expressed it.

“Wal, I hear tell that Randy’s come back.  What’s she goin’ ter do next year, er don’t she know yet?  Did ye know’t I had comp’ny?” She continued, asking a second question without awaiting an answer to the first.

“Wal, I have got comp’ny, and comp’ny she means ter be considered.

“It’s Mis’ C. Barnard Boardman, as she calls herself; she’s Sabriny Brimblecom that was, an’ a pretty time I’m havin’ with her.  She’s delicate, or she thinks she is, an’ I’m ’baout wild with her notions ‘baout food, and her talkin’ of ‘zileratin’ air, whatever that may be.