“I am very glad that it is a cool day,” said Phonny, “for perhaps mother will let us go to Mary Erskine’s.  Should not you like to go?”

“Yes,” said Malleville, “very much.  Where is it?”

The readers who have perused the preceding volumes of this series will have observed that Mary Bell, who lived with her mother in the pleasant little farm-house at a short distance from the village, was always called by her full name, Mary Bell, and not ever, or scarcely ever, merely Mary.  People had acquired the habit of speaking of her in this way, in order to distinguish her from another Mary who lived with Mrs. Bell for several years.  This other Mary was Mary Erskine.  Mary Erskine did not live now at Mrs. Bell’s, but at another house which was situated nearly two miles from Mrs. Henry’s, and the way to it was by a very wild and unfrequented road.  The children were frequently accustomed to go and make Mary Erskine a visit; but it was so long a walk that Mrs. Henry never allowed them to go unless on a very cool day.

At breakfast that morning Phonny asked his mother if that would not be a good day for them to go and see Mary Erskine.  Mrs. Henry said that it would be an excellent day, and that she should be very glad to have them go, for there were some things there to be brought home.  Besides Beechnut was going to mill, and he could carry them as far as Kater’s corner.

Kater’s corner was a place where a sort of cart path, branching off from the main road, led through the woods to the house where Mary Erskine lived.  It took its name from a farmer, whose name was Kater, and whose house was at the corner where the roads diverged.  The main road itself was very rough and wild, and the cart path which led from the corner was almost impassable in summer, even for a wagon, though it was a very romantic and beautiful road for travelers on horseback or on foot.  In the winter the road was excellent:  for the snow buried all the roughness of the way two or three feet deep, and the teams which went back and forth into the woods, made a smooth and beautiful track for every thing on runners, upon the top of it.

Malleville and Phonny were very much pleased with the prospect of riding a part of the way to Mary Erskine’s, with Beechnut, in the wagon.  They made themselves ready immediately after breakfast, and then went and sat down upon the step of the door, waiting for Beechnut to appear.  Beechnut was in the barn, harnessing the horse into the wagon.

Malleville sat down quietly upon the step while waiting for Beechnut.  Phonny began to amuse himself by climbing up the railing of the bannisters, at the side of the stairs.  He was trying to poise himself upon the top of the railing and then to work himself up the ascent by pulling and pushing with his hands and feet against the bannisters themselves below.

“I wish you would not do that,” said Malleville.  “I think it is very foolish, for you may fall and hurt yourself.”