“I’m so happy that I should like to scream!” she announced, as their last whirl brought them up against the wall.  “Isn’t vacation just lovely?  Katy, you don’t look half glad.”

“We’re not going home, you know,” replied Katy, in rather a doleful tone.  She and Clover were not so enraptured at the coming of vacation as the rest of the girls.  Spending a month with Mrs. Page and Lilly was by no means the same thing as spending it with papa and the children.

Next morning, however, when the big stage drove up, and the girls crowded in; when Mrs. Nipson stood in the door-way, blandly waving farewell, and the maids flourished their dusters out of the upper windows, they found themselves sharing the general excitement, and joining heartily in the cheer which arose as the stage moved away.  The girls felt so happy and good-natured that some of them even kissed their hands to Miss Jane.

Such a wild company is not often met with on a railroad train.  They all went together as far as the Junction:  and Mr. Gray, Ellen’s father, who had been put in charge of the party by Mrs. Nipson, had his hands full to keep them in any sort of order.  He was a timid old gentleman, and, as Rose suggested, his expression resembled that of a sedate hen who suddenly finds herself responsible for the conduct of a brood of ducklings.

“My dear, my dear!” he feebly remonstrated, “would you buy any more candy?  Do you not think so many pea-nuts may be bad for you?”

“Oh, no, sir!” replied Rose, “they never hurt me a bit.  I can eat thousands!” Then, as a stout lady entered the car, and made a motion toward the vacant seat beside her, she rolled her eyes wildly, and said, “Excuse me, but perhaps I had better take the end seat so as to get out easily in case I have a fit.”

“Fits!” cried the stout lady, and walked away with the utmost dispatch.  Rose gave a wicked chuckle, the girls tittered, and Mr. Gray visibly trembled.

“Is she really afflicted in this way?” he whispered.

“Oh, no, papa! it’s only Rose’s nonsense!” apologized Ellen, who was laughing as hard as the rest.  But Mr. Gray did not feel comfortable, and he was very glad when they reached the Junction, and half of his troublesome charge departed on the branch road.

At six o’clock they arrived in Springfield.  Half a dozen papas were waiting for their daughters, trains stood ready, there was a clamor of good-bys.  Mr. Page was absorbed by Lilly, who kissed him incessantly, and chattered so fast that he had no eyes for any one else.  Louisa was borne away by an uncle, with whom she was to pass the night, and Katy and Clover found themselves left alone.  They did not like to interrupt Lilly, so they retreated to a bench, and sat down feeling rather left-out and home-sick; and, though they did not say so, I am sure that each was thinking about papa.

It was only for a moment.  Mr. Page spied them, and came up with such a kind greeting that the forlorn feeling fled at once.  They were to pass the night at the Massasoit, it seemed; and he collected their bags, and led the way across the street to the hotel, where rooms were already engaged for them.