Wunny! Same old purple sack! same old shoes;
same old twisted cue around your same old shiny black head! Same old
nasty messes cooking! and same old Alfaretta to get after you with a
sharp stick!" cried Leslie bursting in with all the others.

Even Dorothy was laughing now, Jim quite forgot, while the cook held
such a reception as had never been his before. Leslie went through some
formal introductions, beginning with the lady of the mansion and ending
with Miss Milliken, who had followed unseen till now.

Wun Sing's back must have ached, so often and so low he bowed, while his
tongue mumbled compliments to the most gracious and honorable visitors;
but a look of real delight was on his swarthy face and one of great
affection for smiling Alfaretta.

"My heart! Ain't it just grand to find an old friend up here on the
mountains! I declare, it does beat the Dutch!" and to this, her
expression of greatest wonderment, Leslie added his own:

"Just downright rippin'! He's worth all he costs just to make our Dolly
forget that horrid Jim Barlow. I can't forgive him for running away and
stirring up all this mess, sending Dad off on a tiresome ride and
spoiling sport this way. He was good enough, I'd have treated him
decent, all right, but I wish now he'd never been heard of."

But the most of this was whispered in his mother's ear, as he stood
beside her, his hand upon her shoulder, in that familiar, loving
attitude which always made her so happy.

Then she demanded of the proud _chef_ how soon he could have lunch
ready, and he replied with another gesture of profound respect:

"Light away, this instlant! By my honorable forefathers it is fittee for
the most bleautiful!"

Then he bowed them out of the place and they wandered to the pretty room
where the meal would be served, and which because of its simple,
cloister-like effect, Helena at once named "The Refectory."

It had been a trifling incident, but it had had a happy effect. All
tongues were talking now, planning, anticipating, wondering over the
things they meant to do and to learn; while a man was sent across to the
"Barracks" to tell Lemuel that they would like to begin their rifle
lessons that afternoon.

Mrs. Ford suggested naps for everybody, on account of their previous
long journeys but none wished to sleep just then.

"How can anybody be tired in this glorious air?" asked Helena, burying
her nose in a beautiful bunch of wild flowers somebody had placed be