Yes, Mrs. Mitchell was very thankful for many things; but there was
one which brought ever-fresh tears to her eyes as she left the
swarming city. "I leave three little graves!"

And Juliet! She hardly knew how she ought to feel or how she did.
Certainly there was a great deal of shame in her heart; and equally
certainly there was a great deal of pride--not the old pride of
self-conceit, but a reasonable pride in knowing so much about the
things of the country. She had enough to do to explain to her brothers
and sisters the many new things which they saw from the train, and to
answer their hundreds of questions.

At Littlebourne there was quite a sensation on their arrival. Mr.
Burnet was there in his pony-carriage, and Leonard, and Mrs. Bosher's
brother with a donkey-cart. Mrs. Rowles and Emily laughed and cried
over their relations; and poor Mitchell became so faint from fatigue
and emotion that Mrs. Webster, who now arrived on the scene, hurried
him and his wife and little ones into a "fly" to get them out of the
hubbub.

The station-master and the porters were quite glad when this party
moved off.

They went slowly along the roads, in the soft air sweetened by recent
showers, talking all together, all at the same time. What did it
matter? Nobody wanted to hear anybody's words except his own. At the
cottage they ceased talking, and all ran about through the small
garden, up and down the flight of stairs, in and out the rooms.

Then Mrs. Webster laid down on the dresser a parcel containing
home-made bread and fresh butter. Next Mrs. Bosher's brother brought
from the donkey-cart some bacon, eggs, and milk. The pony-carriage had
concealed under the seat some soap, candles, and cheese. Mrs. Rowles
had a bundle of blankets as a loan, for the present moment; and Mrs.
Bosher came in with sheets and towels for Mrs. Mitchell to use until
her own arrived. All these kindnesses overpowered the London people,
and they knew not how to thank their new friends.

To avoid being thanked Mrs. Bosher nodded her bonnet at Juliet and
went away. Mrs. Webster also departed. Mr. Burnet asked Mitchell to
meet him at the works next morning, and then he and Leonard drove off.
Mrs. Bosher's brother hauled in a half-sack of coals and two great
faggots from the donkey-cart, and then he, too, said good-bye.

The Rowles party stayed longer.

"Ned will come to see you, I hope," said Mrs. Rowles to her
brother-in-law. "But he says he is afrai