We must be on hand in time." What a long hour that was! And not even a chance given to Dab to run down to the landing for a good-by look at the "Jenny" and "The Swallow." His mother and Ham, and Miranda, and the girls, seemed to be all made up of "good-by" that morning.
"Mother," said Dab.
"What is it, my dear boy ?" "That's it exactly.

If you say 'dear boy' again, Ham Morris'll have to carry me to the cars.

I'm all kind o' wilted now." Then they all laughed, and before they got through laughing they all cried except Ham.
He put his hands in his pockets, and drew a long whistle.
The ponies were at the door now.

The light wagon was a roomy one; but, when Dab's trunk had been put in, there was barely room left for the ladies, and Dab and Ham had to walk to the station.
"I'm kind o' glad of it," said Dab.
It was a short walk, and a silent one; but when they came in sight of the platform, Dab exclaimed,-- "There they are,--all of them!" "The whole party ?" "Why, the platform's as crowded as our house was last night." Mrs.Kinzer and her daughters were already the centre of a talkative crowd of young people; and Ford Foster and Frank Harley, with Joe and Fuz Hart, were asking what had become of Dab, for the train was in sight.
A moment later, as the puffing locomotive pulled up in front of the water-tank, the conductor stepped out on the platform, exclaiming,-- "Look a-here, folks, this ain't right.

If there was going to be a picnic you ought to have sent word, and I'd have tacked on an extra car.