"Oh! he isn't going home with us," said Polly. "Come, do let us get in,"
and she scampered off to the carriage and climbed within.

"That's funny," said Percy, jumping in after.

Van opened his lips to tell where Jasper had gone, but remembering
Percy's delight in such an expedition, he closed them quickly, and added
himself to the company in the carriage. Davie followed, and closed the
door quickly.

"Stop! where's Joel?" asked Percy. "Thomas, we've forgotten Joe,"
rapping on the glass to the coachman.

"No, we haven't; he isn't going to drive," said Polly.

"Oh!" and Percy, thinking that Joel had stolen a march on them on his
good strong legs, now cried lustily, "Go on, Thomas; get ahead as fast
as you can," and presently he was lost in the babel of laughter and
chatter going on in the coach.

"I've a piece of news," presently cried Van in a lull. "Davie's bringing
home a prize; first in classics, you know."

"Oh, Davie!" screamed Polly, and she leaned over to throw her arms
around him; "Mamsie will be so glad. Davie, you can't think how glad
she'll be!"

Davie's brown cheek glowed. "It isn't much," he said simply, "there were
so many prizes given out."