"That's just it, Nancy," said Dorothy. "It surely does seem like a
dream."

Yet it was true, and not a dream that Mr. Dainty was to be away from
home for some months, that Mrs. Dainty was to accompany him, and that
Aunt Charlotte would be with them, and that Dorothy and Nancy were to
spend those months at a fine school for girls, and Vera Vane, merry,
mischief-loving Vera, would be eagerly looking for them on the day of
their arrival. One would almost wonder that the thought of being away at
school should appeal to Dorothy and Nancy, but it was the novelty that
charmed them.

It was always delightful at the Stone House, and there had been summer
seasons at shore and country that they had greatly enjoyed, but here
was a new experience, and the "newness" was delightful.

A letter from Vera had just arrived, and Dorothy, out in the garden when
the postman had handed it to her, stood reading it.

"Her letters are just like herself," she whispered.

She looked up. Nancy was calling to her.

"A letter from Vera!" answered Dorothy.

"We shall have to hurry a bit," Nancy said, "James is strapping the two
trunks, the suit-cases are out in the hall, and we must be ready in
twenty minutes."

"All right!" cried Dorothy. "Give me your hand and we'll run to the