nt Martha was not displeased; "and she walks so softly that you can
hardly hear her, and she speaks softly, too. I am going to walk and speak
just as she does."

"That is right," agreed Mrs. Stoddard. "I am sure that she is a
well-spoken girl."

When Captain Enos came up the hill toward home Anne had already put her
blue cape and hat carefully away, and was sitting near the fire with the
white kitten curled up in her lap.

"The Freemans do not eat in their kitchen," said Anne, as they sat down to
supper; "they eat in a square room with a shining floor, and where there
is a high mantel-shelf with china images."

"'Tis a fine house," agreed Captain Enos, "well built of brick. 'twas a
great thing for Anne to see it."

"'Tis not so pleasant a house as this," said Anne. "I could not see the
harbor from any window, and the shore is not smooth and sandy like the
shores of our harbor."

Captain Enos smiled and nodded.

"That's right, Anne," he said; "Boston houses may do for town people, but
we sailor-folk like our own best."

"Yes, indeed!" replied Anne, "and I do not believe a beach-plum grows on
their shore. And nothing I tasted there was so good as Aunt Martha's meal
bread."

The next morning Anne started for school, wearing the new shoes and
scarlet stockings and the little plaid shawl. The children were all
anxious to hear about what she saw in Boston, and she told them of the
soldiers on the Common, and of the shops, and of the houses made of brick
and stone, and she showed Amanda how to make the wonderful curtsey. But
Elder Haven soon called them to take their seats, and it was not until the
noon recess that she found a chance to speak alone with Amanda.

The two little girls sat down on the front door-step of Elder Haven's
house, and Anne told of the wonderful sail to Boston, and had just begun
to describe Rose Freeman when the teacher's voice was heard calling them
in.

As soon as school closed for the day, Amanda said that she could walk home
with Anne and see the new cape and hat, and hear more about Rose Freeman.

"Would you like better to live in Boston than here?" asked Amanda, as they
walked along.

Anne looked at her in surprise.

"Why, Amanda!" she said; "of course I wouldn't. It is not seemly there to
go out-of-doors without a hat; and Rose Freeman said that she had never
been barefooted in her life. She has fine white stockings knit of cotton
yarn for summer, and low shiny shoes that she ca