“It all seems too lovely to be real,” sighed Kitty happily.  “To be going home, to be meeting Dan, to be travelling by ourselves, and to have no lessons for more than three weeks!  It seems too much happiness all at once, and I am afraid I shall wake up presently and find it a dream, as I so often have.  I understand now what Dan meant by saying it was almost worth going away to have the going home.  I do think, though,” with sudden alarm, “that Dan must have missed his train.  I am sure it must be nearly afternoon.”

“It is five minutes past eleven,” laughed Miss Hammond, “and there is his train now coming in, and there—­if I don’t mistake—­is Dan.”

But Kitty had seen him first, and was flying down the platform to meet him.  Dan, recognizing the flying figure, stood and warded her off with the umbrella and bag he had in his hands.  “Now, if you kiss me here,” he cried, “I shall call for help, I really shall; it is taking a mean advantage, and I am not going to stand it.  I wouldn’t mind if you were by yourself, but the others would be imitating you!”

Kitty laughed.  “I forgot you were still a little boy,” she said teasingly.  “I know little boys do mind.  When they are real men they don’t.  Come along, Dan, and speak to Miss Hammond and Pamela,” and Dan followed quite sedately to make his best bow to Kitty’s friends.

“You must be very thankful the holidays are come,” he said solemnly to Miss Hammond.  “I know, of course, how wearing Kitty is.”

“I expect some of your masters feel they have cause for gratitude to-day too,” laughed Miss Hammond.  “Now we must hurry if we want to find nice seats.  I see your train is in.”

Pamela and Dan looked at each other and smiled somewhat embarrassedly; but Dan, who had been rather annoyed at first by Kitty’s asking to bring home a friend with her, let his heart melt a little towards her, for he somehow felt that things were not going to be as bad as he had feared; and when they had found an empty compartment, and seemed likely to have it to themselves all the way, he graciously thawed still more, and his spirits rose to their usual height.

Alas, though, for plans.  The train was on the point of starting, the whistle had gone, and the guard was just about to signal to the engine-driver, when there was a shout and a rush, and with a “Here you are, ma’am!” a porter laid hold of the handle of their door, flung it open, almost pushed two ladies in, threw in some bags and parcels after them, and banged the door to again.  Off started the engine with a jerk which threw the ladies on to the seat opposite Kitty, who, with dismayed face and sinking spirits, had already recognized them as Lady Kitson and Lettice.

“She will be with us all the time, and everything is spoilt,” she groaned inwardly.  She was intensely disappointed.  “Strangers would not have been so bad, or any one but those particular two.”