and was now away on
a fishing cruise. Anne had visited the Freemans the year before, and now
this pleasant invitation for a journey to Boston had been brought by one
of the harbor fishermen, the only way letters came to Province Town. It
was no wonder Anne was eager for permission to go. It would be a three
days' ride from Brewster, and the road would take her through many
pleasant towns and villages. There was not a person in the settlement
who had taken the journey by land. Uncle Enos declared that Province
Town folk who could sail a good boat, with fair winds, to Boston in six
hours were too wise to take such a roundabout route as the land offered.

"But it will be a fine ride for Anne," he agreed. "She will learn much
by the journey, and Squire Freeman will take good care of her. I'll
set her across to Brewster on Tuesday, as Rose says they plan to start
early on Wednesday morning. Well, Anne," and he turned toward the
happy child, "what do you think the Cary children will say when you
tell them that you are to ride to Boston in a fine chaise?"

"I do not know, but I think Amos will say that he would not journey by
land; he is all for big ships; but I'm sure Amanda will think it is a
wonderful thing, and wish to go with me, and indeed I wish she might.
But why do we not have chaises in Province Town?"

"We must have roads first," replied Aunt Martha smilingly; "but Province
Town has no need of coaches and roads with good boats in harbor. Now we
must see that your clothes are in order, for a week soon goes."

"Anne! Anne!" and before Anne could respond a girl of about her own age
came running into the kitchen. "Can you go with me over to the outer
beach? May she go, Mrs. Stoddard? See! I have enough luncheon for us
both in this basket," and Amanda held up a pretty basket woven of sweet
grass.

"May I, Aunt Martha? And oh, Amanda! A wonderful thing is going to
happen to me. Isn't it wonderful, Uncle Enos?"

Aunt Martha and Uncle Enos both smiled and nodded, and Amanda looked
from one to the other in great surprise.

"Run along with Amanda and tell her all about it," said Mrs. Stoddard,
and the two little girls started happily off.

"I can guess," declared Amanda, "for I know that Captain Starkweather
brought you a letter from Boston, and I can guess who the letter is
from."

Anne shook her head laughingly. "You would guess that it was from my
dear father," she answered.

"And is it not?" questioned Amanda