t out here and
read it, Dorothy dear," she continued, "and Rob will take Elf around to
see the kennels, and I'll tag along with them, for if I stay here, I'll
talk and talk so you won't know what is in your letter after all."

It was a kind thought, and a bit of tact that careless, flighty Vera
often showed.

Dorothy opened her letter, and commenced reading. After a few lines she
looked up, her eyes shining.

"Nancy, come here, and listen to this.

"They are already on the homeward trip, and the first of May Mother and
Aunt Charlotte will be at the Stone House, and we are to join them a
week later. Already Mother has written to Mrs. Marvin, and we are to be
excused for the last two weeks at Glenmore, and away we'll speed toward
Merrivale and home."

"Oh, I am _so_ glad!" Nancy cried as she pressed Dorothy closer.

"And that isn't all," said Dorothy, "for hear this:

"I'm sure, dear, that you and Nancy will be
delighted to know that, after a short stay at the
Stone House, we shall go to Foam Ridge for the
summer. You are both so fond of the shore, and the
salt air."

Nancy's eyes were bright, and there was a droll twinkle in them.

Drawing closer, Nancy whispered a rare bit of news.

"Do you mean that?" Dorothy asked. "Are you _sure_?"

Nancy laughed and nodded.

[Illustration: DRAWING CLOSER, NANCY WHISPERED A RARE BIT OF
NEWS.--_Page 186._]

"Perfectly sure," she said, "for only the day before vacation Betty told
me that her mother had just written to say that for a change they were
to spend the summer at the shore, and she said: 'Isn't "Foam Ridge" a
pretty name.' I didn't think to tell you, because I never dreamed that
we would be going to the same place. I knew you'd be pleased, for you
like Betty Chase as well as I do."

"Oh, I am truly glad that we shall see Betty at the shore."

"Hello!" shouted Rob. "Anybody thinking of going to the circus!"

"Yes! Yes!" they cried, and ran to join Rob and Vera and Elf.

For a small circus it proved to be quite a show. There were trained dogs
that were really clever, there were trained elephants, but best of all
there were some handsome horses, whose riders did wonderful vaulting,
tumbling, and riding, springing over hurdles, and through covered hoops.

When they left the tent the girls were delighted with the show, and Rob
said it made him think of his early ambition to be a circus performer.

"Why wouldn't you like to now?" asked Vera. "I