Ah, here they come!"

"Hugh took me over to see a thrush's nest," explained Alene. Her face
glowed with animation beneath Nettie's pink lined bonnet; her lips and
fingers were stained with berries and Laura asked herself if this could
be the white-cheeked, forlorn, little Peggy-Alone she had seen standing
beside Prince on the terrace just a couple of months before.

They trooped gaily into the carriage, Mat again took the reins and away
they went on the return trip.

They came into the town by a different route, which led past the
Ramseys' buff cottage.

"There's Vera and her mother and some ladies sitting on the porch,"
remarked Alene.

"And see, there's Hermione at an upstairs window," said Ivy.

The girls waved their hands to that smiling friend and the boys
gallantly doffed their hats as they raced Old Hurricane past the house.

Mrs. Ramsey gazed after the vehicle with a look of amazement. She had
obtained a glimpse of the girls, in their print dresses and sunbonnets,
but had failed to recognize them.

"Who can they be?"

"They evidently know you," said one of the ladies, smilingly. "Didn't
you see that little curly-headed girl swinging her bonnet?"

"Not at us, surely!"

Vera smiled at her mother's shocked tone.

"That was Ivy Bonner; they were waving at Hermione upstairs."

"I thought it looked like Dawson's rig, but surely Alene wasn't--"

"Yes, she was there, with her face all stained with berry juice! I
guess they were out picking blackberries!"

Mrs. Ramsey raised her eyes in despair. "What does Fred Dawson mean by
allowing it? If that poor child's mother only knew!"

CHAPTER XIX

THE BLUE BOX

It was eight o'clock when Jed Granger, a youth of eighteen, who acted
as a sort of under gardener at the Towers, left a hamper at the Lee
home.

"Here's a note from Alene," explained Laura, running her eyes over the
sheet of tinted paper. "Of all the foolish things to do!"

Ivy sat beside the kitchen table, writing a neat label for Mrs. Kump's
jar of jam. She glanced up at Laura.

"Well?"

"Just listen! Mother, listen to this!"

"Laura Dear:--

Good luck! Uncle Fred gave me two dollars to buy something for Mrs.
Kump. Didn't have time to consult you or Ivy but I know you will be
pleased! It's on top of the hamper. Be sure and look at it.

Good-bye!
"Alene D."

"Candy! Let's look at it!"

Laura, still wearing a look of disgust, opened the package, displaying