Highacres

Mr. John had been saying at intervals as the big car roll

her fancy had ever pictured. She liked best the cities through which they passed, their life, the bustle and confusion, the hurrying throngs, the rushing automobiles, the gleaming

se bright eyes; he tried to draw out some expression, but Jerry had turned to him an appealing look that said more plainly than words that she si

e of her vivid imagination she had drawn a mental picture of what the Westley home and Isobel, Gyp, Graham and Tibby would be like. The house, in her fancy, resembled pictures of

eps that led to the big front door; their stony, stoic stare drew

shed Jerry. "You mustn

f the house in a disappointed way. He had expected that great door to ope

rom behind it Gyp, Graham and Tibby had been watching the street for a half hour. Isobel had resolutely affected utter indif

bby had been the fir

screamed--"loo

m again. "Doesn't Uncle Johnny look g

he young Westleys not to greet the lit

suggestion. "Oh--

rked his disapproval of the weather-worn li

ok--a dog

s keep him," Graham added. "Come on,

ted Uncle Johnny for another hour. She flew with th

y, with one hand through John Westley's arm and the other holding Jerry's, she drew them into the big hall and to the living-room beyond. Jerry's round, shining eyes took in, with a lightning glance,

neck, "here's a twin for you. Jerry, this boy is my nephew Grah

yp, the tall, roguish-faced boy, and little Tibby, whose straight braids were black like Gyp's and whose eyes w

children's prejudice melted in a twinkling. Gyp held out her hand with a friendly gesture and Pepperpot, as though he understood

--Graham and Tib

estley cried, with a startle

ends. Jerry put Pepperpot down and the four children leaned over him.

n't do anything else but bring him along," Uncle Johnny whispered to Mrs. Westle

e standing complaint, though Mrs. Westley had never minded telltale marks from muddy little shoes nor the imprint of sticky fingers on satin upholstery; nor had she ever allowed painters to gloss

helplessly, knowing, as she watched the young people, that

can I have him for my dog? Nearly all the fellows have d

f her heart and hand it over; however, his face was so wistful

cried Uncle John

f in Uncle Johnny's arms. (He was certain to have some pretty gift for her concealed in one of his pockets.) But she must show the others that sh

ncle Johnny's introduction she answered awkwardly, uncomfortably conscious that Isobel's eyes were unfriendly. She wis

om. Graham, carry her bags

too?" cri

barked. Even Mrs. Westley laughed. "Pepper's answering that question himself," she replied. She turned to Unc

few blocks away, he had always looked upon his brother's house as home and spent the greater part of his leisure time there. M

another to gaze rapturously out over the neighboring housetops. The brick, wall-enclosed c

rly clusters, gave it an inviting look; there was a pink pillow in the deep chair in the bay-window; a round table stood near the chair; on it were some of Gyp's books and a little work-basket. And

when he knew he was lost on that "big mountain." They were all so nice and jolly, Jerry thought, and, though Isobel ignored her, she must be as nice as the others, because Uncle Johnny kept her next to him and held her h

red she was not one little bit tired, he had noticed that the brightness had gone fr

is sister-in-law. They had gone back to the library.

ley looked a little distressed. "May she not be homesick here, Joh

ered me--as though she was carefully considering it. 'Well,' she said, 'anyway, one wouldn't be homesick for very long, would one?' As though

eople, but I never found such a curious family before--in such a place. Dr. Travis is one of those mortals whose feet touch the earth and whose head is in the clouds; Mrs. Travis is a cultured, beautiful woman with a look in her eyes as though she was always a

s. Westley laughed at her

by very sensible parents." Her matter-of-fact tone made John Westley feel a

ss and her faith in herself. Not an affectation abo

r there--she's so dow

rprised and a little hurt at

r--" protest

l popular--then, if she has the right stuff in her, she can be a leader. What is it starts you all wearing these little black belts round your waists, or this m

azed in h

ked well; she had on a new dress and her hair was combed in a very new way; she had grown, too, in the summer. Instead he had talked of nothing bu

something if Isobel's mothe

self-centered. I'll be glad when school begins." Mrs. Westley, like ma

ing Jerry's belongings and putting t

warned to keep the little dog from "under Mrs. Hicks' feet." In a fl

am has him," declar

m lay in bed, sound asleep; beside him lay Pepper, carefully tucked

satisfied. And Pepper must have felt it, too, for, though at the sight of his little mis

e him," whis

epperpot with her "to keep away the lonesomes." The night sounds of the city hummed in eerie cadences in her ears. She resolutely counted one-two-three to one hundred and back agai

her. She could not let him lie on the pink-and-whiteness, so she carefull

adows fled, the sob gave way to a contented little sigh and Jerry fell asleep with the memory of G