Fritz was gravely licking his lips, and the Little Colonel had her mouth
full, when they suddenly made their appearance on the front porch.

Aunt Sally Tyler gave a little shriek, and stopped rocking.

"Why, Lloyd Sherman!" gasped her mother, in dismay. "Where have you
been? I thought you were with Becky all the time. I was sure I heard you
singing out there a little while ago."

"I've been to see my gran'fathah," said the child, speaking very fast.
"I made mud pies on his front 'teps, an' we both of us got mad, an'
I throwed mud on him, an' he gave me some 'trawberries an' all these
flowers, an' brought me home on Maggie Boy."

She stopped out of breath. Mrs. Tyler and her niece exchanged astonished
glances.

"But, baby, how could you disgrace mother so by going up there looking
like a dirty little beggar?"

"He didn't care," replied Lloyd, calmly. "He made me promise to come
again, no mattah if you all did tell me not to."

Just then Becky announced that lunch was ready, and carried the child
away to make her presentable.

To Lloyd's great surprise she was not put to bed, but was allowed to go
to the table as soon as she was dressed. It was not long until she had
told every detail of the morning's experience.