.

"Why, Mother," said Jack, "Molly'll be back soon, and the city isn't so
far away after all."

Jack felt as if he had only about enough head left to change his
clothes and drive the team.

"It's just as Mother says," he thought; "I've been wishing and hoping
for it, but it's come very suddenly."

His black traveling-bag was quickly ready. He had closed it and was
walking to the door when his mother came in.

"Jack," she said, "you'll send me a postal card every day or two?"

"Of course I will," said he bravely.

"And I know you'll be back in a few weeks, at most," she went on; "but
I feel as sad as if you were really going away from home. Why, you're
almost a child! You can't really be going away!"

That was where the talk stopped for a while, except some last words
that Jack could never forget. Then she dried her eyes, and he dried
his, and they went down-stairs together. It was hard to say good-by to
all the family, and he was glad his father was not there. He got away
from them as soon as he could, and went over to the stables after his
team. It was a bay team, with a fine harness, and the open carriage
was almost new.

"Stylish!" said Jack. "I'll take Molly on the front seat with me,--no,
the trunk,--and Miss Glidden's trunk,--well, I'll get 'em all in
somehow!"

When he drove up in front of the house his father was there to put the
baggage in and to help Mary into the carriage and to shake hands with
Jack.

The blacksmith's grimy face looked less gloomy for a moment.

"Jack," he said, "good-by. May be you'll really get to the city after
all."

"I think I shall," said Jack, with an effort to speak calmly.

"Well," said the blacksmith, slowly, "I hope you will, somehow; but
don't you forget that there's another city."

Jack knew what he meant. They shook hands, and in another moment the
bays were trotting briskly on their way to Miss Glidden's. Her house
was one of the finest in Crofield, with lawn and shrubbery. Mary Ogden
had never been inside of it, but she had heard that it was beautifully
furnished. There was Miss Glidden and her friend on the piazza, and
out at the sidewalk, by the gate, was a pile of baggage, at the sight
of which Jack exclaimed:

"Trunks! They're young houses! How'll I get 'em all in? I can strap
and rope one on the back of the carriage, but then--!"

Miss Glidden frowned at first, when the carriage pulled up, but she
came out to the gate, smiling, and