owever, she spied Bob in the pasture; perhaps Neal was with
him. She went down and unfastened the big gate that opened into the
barn-yard.

Country child though she was, Janet was sorely afraid of venturing
through the barn-yard alone. Were there any pigs there? Yes, there were
a great many. Janet detested pigs, ugly-looking creatures! And there
were some cows also, and she had on her red jacket. She promptly laid it
aside and made a bold rush through the yard.

On the whole, she rather enjoyed the excitement. She was alone, for
Willy had gone to Boston with her mother, and Cynthia and Jack were at
school. Janet felt herself enjoying an unlooked-for holiday owing to the
illness of her teacher, and she was about to fulfil the proverb which
tells of the occupation that is found for idle hands to do, though in
this case it was an idle tongue.

The dangers of the barn-yard overcome, Janet pursued her way along the
cart-road that led to the far meadow, and there, sitting on a rock near
the river, she found the object of her search. He was whittling a boat
while he pondered moodily about his affairs.

"Neal, Neal!" she called, breathless from excitement and haste, "I want
to speak to you. What have you done with my present?"

"Where did you come from, you small imp?" said Neal, with lazy
good-nature. Preoccupied though he was, he was fond of children, and
particularly of mischief-loving Janet, and he was not sorry to have his
solitude relieved by her coming.

"Where's my present?" repeated Janet; "I want it dreadful bad."

"Your present! What do you mean, young one? You don't suppose for an
instant that I'm making this boat for you, do you?"

"Boat!" cried Janet, disdainfully; "I don't want any old boat; I want
Aunt Betsey's present."

"I suppose you do. I would myself if I were so lucky as to own an Aunt
Betsey. But I'm afraid I can't help you in that line, my child."

"Yes, you can," said Janet, tugging at his elbow; "you can too. You've
got it. Papa said so."

"Got what?"

"Aunt Betsey's present. He and the postmaster man said you took it."

"Said I took it?"

"Yes. Come, Neal, give it to me. I don't want the gold dollars--you can
have those--but I'd like the funny thing she sent with them. Aunt Betsey
allus sends funny things. Come along, Neal. Give it to me."

"Did your father say I took that money?"

"Yes, he did. Didn't I say so lots of times? Edith said you didn't, and
papa said you did. What's the