lingered awhile outside; but it was a full minute before any of them
discovered that the cheery voice belonged to a parrot, whose cage swung
from a tall sycamore overhead.

"Polly's pretty sociable," laughed Mr. Templeton. "Do you like animals,
young ladies? If so, please stand up here in a group, and you shall have
another welcome."

Then he clapped his hands and called out "Thistleblow!" and immediately
a pretty red pony came frisking along and began to caper around the
young people with regular dancing steps, making at the same time the
most graceful salaams, pausing now and then to sway himself as if he
were courtesying. It was a charming performance. The little creature had
once belonged to a band of gypsies, who had given him a regular course
of training.

"He is trying to tell you how glad he is to see you," said Mr.
Templeton, as the children shouted and clapped their hands.

"Oh, won't Bab like it, though!" cried Lucy. "Seems as if I couldn't
wait till to-morrow for Bab to get here, for then the good times will
begin."

But for Kyzie and Edith and Jimmy the good times had begun already. The
five Dunlees entered the house, little Eddo clinging fast to Jimmum's
forefinger. They passed an old lady who sat on the veranda knitting. She
gazed after them through her spectacles, and said to Mr. Templeton in a
tone of inquiry:--

"Boarders?"