"Shall you drive to the junction if you hear nothing at the station?"

"Yes, I think so, though I've little hope of learning anything there.
You see, people come there from three directions. They couldn't possibly
notice everybody as they do at a little station like this."

"Wait," said Meg, "don't go to the junction. Have you forgotten Mr.
Ledgard was to fetch us all at half-past two? He'll run you over in his
car in a quarter the time you'd take to go with Placid, and be some use
as well. You'd better come straight back here if you get no news, and
I'll keep him till you get back if he turns up first."

By this time the pony-cart was at the door. Meg helped Jan in, kissed
her, and whispered, "Cheer up; I feel somehow you'll hear something,"
and Jan drove off. She found a boy to hold the pony when she reached the
station, and went in. The old porter was waiting for the train, and she
asked if he happened to notice her little nephew that morning.

"Yes, miss, I did see 'un along with a holder gentleman unbeknownst to
me."

Jan walked up and down in an agony of doubt and apprehension.

The train came in. There were but few passengers, and among them was
Miles, come down again for the week-end.

He greeted Jan with effusion. Had she come to meet anyone, or was it a
parcel?

To his astonishment Miss Ross broke from him and rushed at the guard
right up at the far end of the train.

The guard evidently disclaimed all knowledge of the parcel, for Miles
saw him shaking his head vigorously.

"Any other luggage, sir?" asked the old porter, lifting out Miles'
suit-case.

"Yes, a box of rods in the van."

The old porter went to the end of the train near where Jan had been to
the guard three minutes before.

He opened the van door and nearly tumbled backward in astonishment, for
right in the doorway, blinking at the light, stood "Miss Rass' young
gen'leman."

"Well, I am blessed!" exclaimed the porter, and lifted him out.

Tony was dreadfully dirty. The heat, the dust, the tears he had shed
when he woke up with the putting in of luggage at the junction and
couldn't understand what had happened to him, all combined to make him
about the most miserable-looking and disreputable small boy you could
imagine. He had left his hat behind the milk-cans.

Jan had gone out of the station. She had passed Miles blindly, and her
face caused that young man to whistle softly, just once. Then he dashed
after her.

"Your haunt