And in two days they were ready to go.  Mrs. Chatterton with nose high in the air, and plentiful expressions of disgust at such a mid-winter expedition, taking herself off to make a visit of corresponding length to some distant relatives.

“I hope and pray this may not get into a society paper,” she cried at the last, as she was seated in the carriage, “but of course it will; outre things always do.  And we shall be disgraced for life.  One comfort remains to me, I am not in it.”

Mr. King, holding the carriage door, laughed long and loudly.  “No, Cousin Eunice,” he said, “you are not in it.  Take comfort in that thought.  Good-by,” and the carriage rolled off.

Mother Pepper and the five little Peppers were going back to the little brown house.  “Really and truly we are,” as Phronsie kept saying over and over again with every revolution of the car-wheels, in a crooning fashion, and making it impossible for Mr. King to shiver in apprehension at the step he was taking.  Were not two cases of blankets and household comforts safely packed away in the luggage car?  “It’s not such a dreadful risk,” said the old gentleman gruffly to himself, “it’s quite a common occurrence nowadays to take a winter outing in the country.  We’re all right,” and he re-enforced himself further by frequent glances at Mrs. Pepper’s black bonnet, two seats off.

It was to be a three-days’ frolic, after all.  Not that the whole party were to stay in the little brown house.  O dear, no! how could they?  It was only big enough for the Peppers.  So Mrs. Whitney and her three boys, with Mr. King, and Jasper, who concealed many disappointed feelings, planned to settle down in the old hotel at Hingham.

And before anybody imagined they could reach there so soon, there they were at Badgertown Center, to find Mr. Tisbett waiting there on his stage-box as if he had not stirred from it for five years.

“Sho, now!” he called out from his elevated position to Mrs. Pepper, as she stepped down from the car, “it’s good to see you, though.  Land! how many of ye be there?  And is that Phronsie?  Sho, now!”

“Did you get my letter?” exclaimed Mother Pepper to Mrs. Henderson, who was pressing up to grasp her hand, and preparing to fall on the young folks separately.  The parson stood just back, biding his time with a smile.

“Is it possible?” he exclaimed; “are these tall boys and girls the five little Peppers?  It can’t be, Mrs. Pepper,” as at last he had her hand.  “You are imposing on us.”

And then the village people who had held back until their pastor and his wife paid their respects, rushed up and claimed their rights, and it was high holiday indeed for Badgertown.

“My goodness!” exclaimed Mr. King at a little remove and viewing the scene with great disfavor, “this is worse than the danger of taking cold.  Have they no sense, to carry on like this?”

“They’re so glad to see the Peppers again, father,” said Mrs. Whitney with bright eyes.  “You took them away from all these good people, you know; it’s but fair to give them up for one day.”