re too young
to take matters into your own hands."

Then Mr. and Mrs. Morrison took their leave, and Louis went with them.

"I'm going home soon," he said to his cousin. "Say, Edna, I'm awfully
sorry about all this fuss. It was all my fault, but I did mean to run
away, only father and mother came."

"I'm very glad you didn't go," answered Edna.

It is very doubtful if Louis would have gone any great distance, even
if he had started, although he stuck to it that the arrival of his
parents alone prevented his making the venture.

"O, mamma! O, mamma! it is really you," said Edna, when her cousin had
gone. "When am I going home with you?"

"In a few days," replied her mother.

Uncle Justus, looking at her, sighed.

"Don't you want to stay with us?" asked Aunt Elizabeth, as if she,
too, felt that it would be hard to part.

With the dear mother-arms so near it was not easy to think of anyone
else, but the feeling sorry for people was always ready to rise in
Edna's heart, and she looked from one to the other. Poor Uncle Justus!
she did not like to leave him, and even Aunt Elizabeth seemed more
lovable when she considered the distance that would soon be between
them.

"O," she cried, "I want you all!"

"Well," replied her father, cheerfully, "I don't know but what that
can be managed. I have been thinking of a plan which we will talk over
to-morrow. Just now it is high time for runaways to be in bed;" and
with a kiss all around Edna said "Good-night."

Chapter XIII

PLEASANT CHANGES.

Edna stood at her high-up window fastening her frock and looking out
at the scene before her. She saw the white sails in the far distance;
the smoke of the train which wound its way along the outskirts of the
city past the green meadows beyond; she counted over again the
chimneys of the houses opposite.

To-morrow, and to-morrow--and still another to-morrow she would have
her mother. It seemed to her that she was never so glad in her life.
All the unhappy things seemed to have melted away like snow. Louis was
safe; Maggie had a happy home; mamma and papa were with her, and soon
she should see sister and the boys; and Edna gave a long sigh of
content as she fastened her last button and turned to go down to
breakfast.

"Now, mamma, what are we going to do?" she asked, when the meal was
over.

"I have concluded not to let you return to school," mamma replied,
smiling. "All this excitement has been too much for one lit