Then they went upstairs and got out fresh bedding, and Mary Jane herself put out the fresh towels in the guest bathroom.  And by that time it was six o’clock—­time for bread and milk.  Everybody went to bed early so as to be up and feeling fine in the morning.

Next morning Mary Jane helped Grandmother with the morning work; then she put on her pink gingham dress and got out her biggest pink plaid hair ribbon for Grandmother to tie.  And in no time at all, they were off to the station.

When the train stopped and left a pretty lady and a rosy-cheeked little boy of about Mary Jane’s age on the tiny platform, Mary Jane suddenly felt very shy.  She had never played with little boys, except Junior, and he was so much younger she didn’t count him, and she didn’t quite know how to talk to a little boy cousin she had never seen before.  But she needn’t have worried about what to say because the grown folks talked all the time and the two children on the front seat beside Grandfather Hodges, simply sat and looked at each other all the way home!

But after Grandfather had helped them out, by their own doorstep, Mary Jane seemed to feel that something must be said so she remarked, “Would you like to see my mice?”

“I thought girls were afraid of mice,” replied John.

“Well, I’m not,” said Mary Jane scornfully.  “Come on see ’em.”  And she started for the barn.

Strange to relate, they hadn’t got half way across the barn yard before the big pig, the same one that had so frightened Mary Jane on her first day, ran out of his pen in the barn and made straight for them.  Grandfather had been in a hurry both times he went for the train and had forgotten to lock him up, most likely.  John, who wasn’t any more used to creatures than Mary Jane had been, screamed and screamed at the top of his voice.

Mary Jane looked at him scornfully and, forgetting all about how she herself had felt when she first came, said, “He won’t hurt you!  I’ll send him away!” And without a thought of fear, she waved her arms around as she had seen Grandfather do on that first day.  Mrs. Pig stopped short as she had for Grandfather, and Mary Jane, delighted with the success she seemed to be having, waved and shouted till Grandfather, hearing the commotion, came running to see what the matter could be.

“Well!  Well!  Well!” he exclaimed when he reached the barn gate and saw what had happened.  “Say I couldn’t make a farmer’s girl out of you, Mary Jane!  I’m proud of you!  Isn’t she a good one, John?”

John, his eyes round with fear for himself and with admiration for his new little cousin, nodded “Yes.”

After that Grandfather stayed around near where they were and helped Mary Jane show John the little pigs, Brindle Bess the cow, and then the baby mice (who soon wouldn’t be babies any more, by the way) up in the loft.  And of course they went across the road to see the lamb that by now was well acquainted with Mary Jane; and they played with Bob who came frisking to meet them.  And last of all they showed John the brand new baby ducks.