to other things, Miss Prue giving much valuable advice on "How to live
on ten dollars a week;" but the sage maxims were so interspersed with
hammerings, hunts, and hurry, that I fear much of their value was lost
on Sara.

It happened to be a fair day when they left for the new home, and it
seemed as if all Killamet turned out to bid them God-speed. They ate
their last dinner with faithful Miss Prue, then, accompanied by a goodly
little procession, walked down to the beach, where Jasper Norris, who
had somehow happened home a few days before, was waiting with his tidy
little wherry to row them across the bay to Norcross, where they would
reach the railroad, their goods having been sent by wagon a day or two
before. It was curious to see how differently each of the Olmstead group
was affected by this leave-taking.

Sara was pale and still, and her beautiful, sad eyes heavy with unshed
tears; Morton had an air of manliness new and good to see, and seemed
determined to look after every one and everything; Molly's cheeks were
red, and her eyes aglow with excitement, as her feet danced over the
white sand, while baby laughed at the surrounding friends with charming
impartiality, and talked every minute in his own particular dialect,
which eye and motion made almost as intelligible as the queen's English.

At length they stood on the crescent beach, the sea rolling in at their
feet, as Sara had watched it so many times. A fresh April wind curled
the waves into fluffy white turbans (as Molly observed), and an April
sun gave them an almost blinding sparkle. Each lighthouse gleamed
whitely across the bay, and the tall cliff rocks stood out in bold
relief against the dazzling blue of the sky; but Jasper saw it all as
through a mist, for his heart was heavy.