ick joined, as the children ran out to welcome the
unexpected visitors.

"I am here, too!" said Mr. Pierce laughingly.

The visitors were warmly welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Freeman.

"I couldn't be satisfied, after this fine saddle came, until I had taken
a journey," declared Aunt Anne Rose, with a happy little laugh. "And my
boys were sure that they could keep house without us, so Silas and I
started off. Having nieces to visit I felt as if I must come."

"Anne Rose has never been in Boston before, and she thinks it must be as
large as London itself," said Mr. Pierce.

"There are indeed many places to see," said Mrs. Freeman, "and it will
be a great pleasure for us to show them to Mrs. Pierce."

"There is Mistress Mason's shop," suggested Anne.

"And Governor Hancock's fine house," added Rose.

"And the wharves and shipyards," said Frederick.

As they talked the little party moved toward the house. Rose ran to the
kitchen to help Caroline prepare an early supper, and Mrs. Freeman sent
Anne to show the visitors to the big spare chamber.

"I wear my fine hat every day," said Anne, as she and Aunt Anne Rose
went up the stairs together.

"I really think that we must take Anne back to Scituate with us," said
Mr. Pierce. "What do you say, Anne?"

"My father's ship may come any day now," answered the little girl, "and
then we must go home to Province Town."

It seemed to Anne as if Mrs. Pierce's face grew very grave, and she
wondered to herself if Aunt Anne Rose would really like to have her live
with them.

"Your cheeks are just as red, and your eyes shine; you look just like a
girl, Aunt Anne Rose," she said admiringly, as Mrs. Pierce took off her
hat and brushed her pretty black hair, that waved back from her face.

"It's because I'm on a visit," declared Mrs. Pierce, "and a visit to
Boston. I've always wanted to come, and here I am! Everybody looks young
and pretty when she is happy, Anne. But I'm not young. I'm past forty,
and I never was pretty," and the dark-eyed little woman smiled
radiantly, as if everything in life was planned just right.

The Pierces declared that they could stay only two days, so that evening
many plans were made that they should fill the time with as much
pleasure as possible. Mr. Pierce had some business to attend to with
various merchants, and Anne and Rose were eager to show Mrs. Pierce the
shops, the fine houses and churches; and directly after breakfast the
next morning Mrs.