Janet | Page 7

"No, come on if you want to," Janet replied, and together they walked
down the path.
"Let's stop at the post office," Janet suggested, her thoughts, in spite of
her determination to forget it, still on the letter.
As they neared the little, low, red-brick building almost covered by
dark green ivy that served as post office and general store for Old
Chester, they noticed a horse and cart with bright yellow wheels drawn
up at the curb. The harness was new and shining, and the horse, a
beautiful sorrel with slender legs, tossed his head impatiently.
"Why, who does he belong to?" Janet exclaimed.
"Dunno," Harry was not particularly interested. "Guess it's Mrs. Todd's.
I heard mother talking about her last night. She is visiting at the rectory,
'cause she's a cousin or something of Mrs. Blake's." The door of the
post office opened and he lowered his voice. "Here she comes now."
Janet looked up and saw a tall, mannish-looking woman, dressed in a
rough serge suit and heavy boots, coming toward them. She had on a
soft gray felt hat without any trimming, and she carried a market basket
over her arm. Her eyes were small but they were so very blue and
penetrating that Janet felt they must be making holes in the back of her
head.
"Hello, whose children are you?" she demanded rather than asked as
she put her basket into the cart. She turned to Harry. "You're Harry
Waters. I know but you." She scrutinized Janet, and suddenly her face
softened and she put one big hand on her slender shoulder.

"You're a Page," she said. "The Pages all have straight short noses.
Wait a minute and let me think. Haven't you a sister?"
Janet shook her head and smiled. It was a merry smile, for she suddenly
realized that she liked this queer, outspoken woman very much.
"No, I haven't a sister," she replied. "I wish I had. I have a brother and a
grandmother, and I think that's all, except Boru." She looked down at
the dog, who was sniffing at the stranger's skirts. "Your horse is a
beauty," she added shyly.
"Like him? So do I. Suppose you drive me home; that is, to the rectory.
I am staying there, and my name is Ann Todd. Here you are! Jump in,
Harry. If you can wind up those fat legs of yours you will just fit in the
back.
Janet had hard work not to show her surprise, for it was even greater
than her delight. She had never, in all her short life, met any one who
cut off their sentences as though they were clipping threads and who
made up their minds so quickly.
They reached the rectory before she could think of anything to say, and
then all she could stammer was, "Oh, thank you ever so much; it was
simply thrilling."
Alice and Mildred Blake were sitting in the tiny little flower garden,
both busy with yards of green bunting which they were sewing together
in long strips. They looked up in surprise as they saw Janet and Harry.
"Oh, Janet, will your grandmother really let you; isn't that wonderful!"
they exclaimed.
Janet was utterly bewildered. "What are you talking about?" she
demanded. "Will my grandmother let me do what?"
Alice and Mildred looked at each other in confusion, and then at Mrs.
Todd.

"We though --" Alice began.
"Cousin Ann and mother said --" finished Mildred.
Mrs. Todd laughed heartily at their embarrassment and put her arm
around Janet.
"Perhaps I can explain," she said. "The girls are talking about the
church fair. Their mother said something last night about your
grandmother's never letting you take any part in it, and I said that I
would undertake to see that you came this year, and so I will." Her jaw
snapped with such decision as she said these words that Janet almost
jumped.
"That's awfully nice of you," she replied politely, "but grandmother's
mind is rather hard to change. I never try."
"Why won't she let you?" Alice asked timidly.
"I hardly remember," -- Janet laughed. "It's so long since I teased to
come. I was ten then and I thought that it would be such fun, but -- well,
I didn't, and I've never asked since. I think being out late was one of the
reasons."
"Humph!" was all Mrs. Todd had to say, but a few minutes later she
offered to drive Janet home.
"And I'll just stop in and say 'how do you do,' too, while I'm there," she
decided.
On the way, as they bowled along the soft sandy road, Janet worried a
little. It was luncheon time, and her grandmother never saw visitors
until after three o'clock, but it would be quite