ordant whistle,
cheerfully unaware that he was quite off the key.

"Does it take long to get to Boston?" asked Prue, abruptly.

"No, I guess not," said Hi, "but it's a little longer'n I thought to the
deepot."

"Don't you know the way?" she asked when upon reaching a fork in the road
Hi stopped and stared about him as if puzzled as to which to choose.

"Oh, yes, I know the way to the deepot," said Hi, "only I was a thinkin'
which was the nearest way. Last time I went there with Uncle Joshua he
said, 'We'll go this way 'cause it's a short cut,' an' I guess this is it,
Prue, so come along."

And away they went down the road which led directly away from the Centre.
Naughty little Hi was far from sure that they were walking in the right
direction, but he knew that they were not going toward school, and that in
itself was delightful, and a glance at Prue's smiling face assured him
that he was making her happy, so on they trudged, singing and whistling
as before.

The sun was high overhead, and the light breeze blew the curls about
Prue's little face, until Hi looking at her said,

"You're the nicest girl I know Prue; will ye give me some er your lunch,
if I'll give you half er my apple?"

"Oh, yes," assented Prue, "I'm getting hungry too. Here, let's divide this
gingerbread first."

Upon the low stone wall they perched, and a pretty picture they made,
sharing their lunch and throwing the crumbs to the sparrows that twittered
in the dusty road.

"We've been walking so long, we must be most to the deepot, Hi," said
Prue.

"I guess so," the small boy answered, "so now we've finished the lunch,
we'll just start along. Gim me yer hand, Prue; I'm a big boy, 'n I'm
takin' care er you."

"Yes, you're taking care of me real good," Prue answered sweetly, "and I
love you fer taking me to my Randy, but Hi," she continued, "I'll _have_
to sit down a minute, my feets are so tired."

"Oh, there's time 'nough," said Hi. "We'll rest a while, an' then, after
we've walked a little ways, fust thing you'll see'll be the deepot. Then
when we git inter the cars, we shall sit on the soft seat and jest rest
'til we get ter Randy's."

"Well, then, let's hurry," said Prue, "I'm some rested now, and if we run
we'll get there all the sooner."

But Prue was more weary than she knew, and her little legs refused to run,
so, settling into a jog trot the two tired children pushed onward, each
step carrying them farther from the depot and