Part 23 (1/2)
The Meadow Brook Bobbseys had secured good seats in the middle car,--Aunt Sarah thought that the safest,--and now the locomotive whistle was tooting, calling the few stragglers who insisted on waiting at the beach until the very last minute.
Freddie wanted to cry when he realized that Uncle Daniel, Aunt Sarah, and even Harry were going away, but with the promises of meeting again Christmas, and possibly Thanksgiving, all the good-bys were said, and the excursion train puffed out on its long trip to dear old Meadow Brook, and beyond.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE STORM
When Uncle William Minturn came in from the city that evening he had some mysterious news. Everybody guessed it was about Nellie, but as surprises were always cropping up at Ocean Cliff, the news was kept secret and the whispering increased.
”I had hard work to get her to come,” said Uncle William to Mrs. Bobbsey, still guarding the mystery, ”but I finally prevailed upon her and she will be down on the morning train.”
”Poor woman, I am sure it will do her good,” remarked Mrs. Bobbsey.
”Your house has been a regular hotel this summer,” she said to Mr. Minturn.
”That's what we are here for,” he replied. ”We would not have much pleasure, I am sure, if our friends were not around us.”
”Did you hear anything more about the last vessel?” asked Aunt Emily.
”Yes, I went down to the general office today, and an incoming steamer was sure it was the West Indies vessel that was sighted four days ago.”
”Then they should be near port now?” asked Mrs. Bobbsey.
”They ought to be,” replied Uncle William, ”but the cargo is so heavy, and the schooner such a very slow sailer, that it takes a long time to cover the distance.”
Next morning, bright and early, Dorothy had the donkeys in harness.
”We are going to the station to meet some friends, Nellie,” she said.
”Come along?”
”What! More company?” exclaimed Nellie. ”I really ought to go home.
I am well and strong now.”
”Indeed you can't go until we let you,” said Dorothy, laughing. ”I suppose you think all the fun went with Harry,” she added, teasingly, for Dorothy knew Nellie had been acting lonely ever since the carnival. She was surely homesick to see her mother and talk about the big prize.
The two girls had not long to wait at the station, for the train pulled in just as they reached the platform. Dorothy looked about a little uneasily.
”We must watch for a lady in a linen suit with black hat,” she said to Nellie; ”she's a stranger.”
That very minute the linen suit appeared.
”Oh, oh!” screamed Nellie, unable to get her words.”There is my mother!” and the next thing Dorothy knew, Nellie was trying to ”wear the same linen dress” that the stranger appeared in--at least, that was how Dorothy afterwards told about Nellie's meeting with her mother.
”My daughter!” exclaimed the lady, ”I have been so lonely I came to bring you home.”
”And this is Dorothy,” said Nellie, recovering herself. ”Dorothy is my best friend, next to Nan.”
”You have surely been among good friends,” declared the mother, ”for you have gotten the roses back in your cheeks again. How well you do look!”