Part 14 (1/2)

”but Papa says he will get me a new one, and I shall see that n.o.body gets that away from me. You never will see me again, Sue, but you will have those common Harts; I supose they will be glad enouf to take up with you again.

”So I remain, Miss Penrose,

”Yours truly,

”Miss CLARICE STEPHANOTIS PACKARD.”

Sue's eyes remained fixed on the paper; her cheeks glowed with shame and mortification; she could not meet her friends' eyes. There was a moment of dead silence; then came a sound that made her look up hastily, blus.h.i.+ng still deeper.

”Why! why, you are all laughing!” she cried.

”My dear, of course we are laughing!” cried Mary, catching her in her arms. ”What should we do but laugh? And we _are_ glad to take up with you again, aren't we, boys?”

”Rather!” said Tom. ”Why, Sue, it's been only half living without our Quicksilver.”

”Have you really missed me?” cried poor Sue. ”Oh, Tom! Of course I know Mary has, because I know how wretched I have been, really, all the time, even at first, when I didn't know it. But you, too, and Teddy? Oh, I am so glad! so glad! And now there are five of us, aren't there, Lily?”

Lily answered with a warm caress. She knew privately that she was the happiest of the five, but she did not know how to say it.

”Five of us!” echoed Teddy. ”I say! we ought to have a name. The Frisky Five! No! that isn't good. Somebody else try!”

”The Festive Five!” suggested Tom.

But Mary shook her head. ”I have it!” she said. ”Join hands, all! the Faithful Five! Hurrah for us!”

The five children stood up and held hands, looking at one another with a certain solemnity.