f he half
expected a scolding, but as soon as Captain Enos landed he patted the
boy's shoulder kindly, and said:

"The little maid has told me all about it. You were not greatly to blame,
Jimmie. And the trip turned out all right."

"I saw my father," said Anne, and then ran away toward home, leaving
Captain Enos to tell of the visit to Boston.

Aunt Martha had seen the sloop come to anchor, and was waiting at the door
to welcome Anne.

"Uncle Enos and I have a secret with my father," Anne whispered to Mrs.
Stoddard, "and we have been to Newburyport." And then the story of the
wonderful trip was told, and Anne showed Mrs. Stoddard how she had
curtseyed to the squire.

"Well! Well!" exclaimed the good woman in amazement. "It does seem as if
you had all sorts of adventures, Anne. To think of Enos undertaking such a
thing. I'm proud of you both. 'twill be a fine story to tell your
grandchildren, Anne. How you carried news from Boston patriots to
Newburyport. But do not speak of it till we are through with all these
troublous days." And again Anne promised to keep silent.

"To think you should run off like that, child," continued Aunt Martha.
"When Jimmie Starkweather came up and told me you were gone I could scarce
believe him till I had climbed the stairs to the loft and found no trace
of you. But I am right glad you wore your shoes and stockings. Where did
the blue cape come from?"

By this time they were in the kitchen, and Anne had put down the box that
held her hat.

"Mrs. Freeman gave it to me," she replied, "and see! I have a new hat!"
and she opened the box and took out the pretty hat.

"I thought thy uncle would take thee straight to Mistress Freeman," said
Mrs. Stoddard.

"And we found my father," went on Anne happily, "and he sent thee this,"
and she drew the gold piece from her pocket and gave it to Mrs. Stoddard.

"Well, well," said Aunt Martha, "'Tis a fine piece of money, and your
father is kind to send it. I will use it well."

"And Uncle Enos has fetched you a fine shawl and a keg of molasses," said
Anne. "You do not think there was great harm in my hiding in the sloop,
Aunt Martha?" The little girl's face was so troubled that Aunt Martha gave
her another kiss, and said:

"It has turned out well, but thee must never do so again. Suppose a great
storm had come up and swept the sloop from her moorings that night?"

"Rose Freeman looks just like a rose," said Anne, feeling quite sure that
Au