acts like
this when she wants to cry and is too proud."

With Rosemary to the left of her and Jack on her right and no possible
avenue of escape open, Sarah mounted the porch steps. Someone all in
white, fragrant and dainty and sweet, gathered her, dirt-stained and
disheveled as she was, into loving arms. Sarah began to cry.

"There, my precious," said Mrs. Willis softly, "tell Mother all about
it--she wants to hear."

Rosemary and Jack slipped away.

CHAPTER XXV

UP TO MISCHIEF

Once more a flood of moonlight and a night or two when "Old
Fiddlestrings" wandered up and down the road playing the "Serenade" and
then the first of September was blazoned on the calendar and on the
fields of Rainbow Hill. The summer was virtually over.

Jack went away hilariously for a brief fishing trip with his father
before the Eastshore schools should open; and to the delight of his
mother and sisters, Doctor Hugh came out to stay till they were ready
to go back with him, a matter of ten days or so, for school would be in
session by the middle of the month.

Finding Sarah in a sad state from violent crying on his arrival the day
of Bony's departure, Doctor Hugh was soon in possession of the Gays'
story; and he not only succeeded in persuading Louisa and Alec to
accept the money Sarah's sacrifice had obtained, but he also managed to
give them a more wholesome outlook on the world in general. Although
Alec and Louisa were naturally reluctant to accept Sarah's money, when
they were finally persuaded, their relief was plain. Now they had
enough cash in hand to meet the dreaded interest payment. Alec
insisted that the money from Sarah was to be regarded as a loan and
Doctor Hugh agreed to this.

"All right," said Sarah when this arrangement was explained to her,
"but I don't want to see Bony--not ever any more."

Alec had told her that the pig would probably be brought to the farm to
spend the winter and had offered to drive to Eastshore some day and
bring her back to see her pet. Sarah's refusal was unmistakable; the
parting once made, she was not minded to harrow her feelings again.

Rosemary found Louisa a diligent pupil and the knitted spread was soon
under way. Louisa's pet ambition was to buy a good flock of hens and
raise chickens. The money earned from the spread, or spreads she might
make, she confided to Rosemary, was to be saved toward this venture.

"We haven't had our picnic yet," said Doctor Hugh on