and great spiders had ventured forth into the dusk and the dews,
there was a sudden hail at the gate, and Cherry knew that it was
he! A flood of utter, irrational happiness rose in her heart; she
had been racked with hunger for the sound of that voice; she had
been restless and unsatisfied, almost feverish with longing and
doubt; now peace came again, and content.

He came up to them, his glance resolutely averted from Cherry,
explaining that he was lonesome, assuring them that everything
went well, and making them laugh with an account of Justin
Little's reception of the new turn of affairs. Alix asked a
hundred questions; laughed and rejoiced.

"To-morrow let's go down and see the old house," suggested Alix,
"I guess it's in pretty bad shape, for we couldn't rent it. At
least Pete and I didn't think it was worth while to do all the
plastering and painting they wanted! But we'll do it now, Cherry;
we'll fix it all up, and then every summer, and perhaps some
winters--at least if Mart isn't too far away--you can live there.
Did you see Anne, Peter?" she asked, suddenly.

"No, just Justin. He seemed absolutely dumbfounded," Peter said.
"He looked at the paper, read it, laughed, and said--in that
little nervous, smiling way of his--that he felt it to be by no
means conclusive--"

"I can hear him!" giggled Alix.

"And I guess both you girls will have to come in in a day or two,"
Peter continued.