ith Aunt Marcia and me" she had said, "then I shall feel
that while one dear friend departs, another remains."

Upon entering the car, Jotham had turned over the seat opposite the one
which they had chosen, and upon it they laid wraps, bags, a box of candy,
and Helen's last gift to Randy, a great cluster of roses.

Randy had enjoyed her sojourn in the city with all the enthusiasm of her
nature, but now her face was turned toward home, and with a smiling face
she said to Jotham,

"I have you for company, and the day is sunny, I have my gifts, too, and
best of all, I shall soon see every one at home. O, Jotham, are you as
glad as I am, to-day?"

There was a suspicious tremor in his voice as he replied,

"I am every bit as happy as you are, Randy; I have worked very hard this
winter and been cheered by Professor Marden's genuine interest in me. He
has been kindness itself, and the letters from home have been a great
comfort. I am already looking forward to next season's study, and in the
meantime I shall enjoy the summer vacation. I'll show father that while he
is kind enough to allow me to spend my winter in study, I have not
forgotten how to help in the summer work upon the farm."

"Look, Randy," continued Jotham, "the little towns and villages look more
like home as we ride away from the city."

Randy looked from the window and noticed that the houses were farther and
farther apart, the broad fields in which cows were grazing, the winding
rivers dazzling in the sunlight, the hills blue and hazy and over all the
blue sky and fleecy clouds.

When Randy opened the little parcel containing Nina's gift, she was
delighted to find a photograph, encased in a silver frame of exquisite
workmanship. Nina's card was fastened to the frame with a bit of ribbon,
and upon the card appeared this message: "You now see that I can be with
you always."

"Nina knew that I would rather have her picture than any other thing,"
said Randy.

How swiftly the hours flew! At noon the car was very warm, for it was
late in May, and it seemed almost like June sunshine which lay in long
bars upon the red plush seats.

Later, the air became cooler, and Randy had tired of the flying landscape
until aroused by Jotham, who exclaimed,

"Look out, Randy! This is the next town to ours."

"Do you mean that we are so near home?" asked Randy, with sparkling eyes.
Just at this point the brakeman's voice announced the station, and proved
that Jotham