he particular
Keith, who judged all girls by the standard of his mother.

As soon as the trunks were attended to, Mr. Sherman led the way to the
carriage, waiting on the other side of the platform. Hero was given a
place beside Walker, and although he sprang up obediently when he was
bidden, he eyed his companion suspiciously all the way. The pony-cart
trundled along beside the carriage, the girls calling back and forth to
each other, above the rattle of the wheels.

"Oh, isn't Hero the loveliest dog that ever was! But you ought to see our
puppy--the cutest thing--nothing but a bunch of soft, woozy curls." ...
"We're in the new house now, you must come over to-morrow." ... "Mother is
going to take us all camping soon. You are invited, too." This from the
pony-cart in high-pitched voices in different keys.

"Oh, I've had a perfectly lovely time, and I've brought you all something
in my trunk. And say, girls, Betty is writing a play for the Red Cross
entertainment. There's a witch in it, Kitty, and lots of pretty costumes,
Allison. And, oh, deah, I'm so glad to get home I don't know what to do
first!" This from the carriage.

The great entrance gates were unlocked now, the lawn smoothly cut, the
green lace-work of vines trimly trained around the high white pillars of
the porches. The pony-cart turned back at the gate, and the carriage drove
slowly up the avenue alone. The mellow sunlight of the warm September
afternoon filtered down like gold, through the trees arching overhead.

"'Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home,'" sang Lloyd, softly,
leaning out of the carriage to wave her hand to Mom Beck, who, in whitest
of aprons and gayest of head bandanas, stood smiling and curtseying on the
steps. The good old black face beamed with happiness as she cried, "Heah
comes my baby, an' li'l' Miss Betty, too, bless her soul an' body!"

Around the house came May Lily and a tribe of little pickaninnies, who
fell back at sight of Hero leaping out of the carriage. He was the largest
dog they had ever seen. Lloyd called them all around her and made them
each shake hands with the astonished St. Bernard, who did not seem to
relish this part of his introduction to Kentucky.

"He'll soon get used to you," said the Little Colonel. "May Lily, you run
tell Aunt Cindy to give you a cooky or a piece of chicken for him to eat.
Henry Clay, you bring a pan of watah. If you all fly around and wait on
him right good, he'll like you