O Betty, why didn't you think of it sooner ?" Then, holding up one of the offending gray stockings between the tips of her fingers, "Did you--did any one ever see anything in all this world so hideous ?" "We can do away with their itchiness, but we shall never, never be able to hide their ugliness," said Betty ruefully.

"_Nothing_ could do that." But the ugliness did not seem to matter so much when the irritation was stopped; and they had such a grand time that evening, there was so much to tell, and hear, and do, and show, that all other things were forgotten, at least for the time.
And how lovely it was to wake in the morning and remember at once that the holidays had come, and Dan was home; and then to wander about the house and garden with him, looking up old haunts, and visiting Prue and Billy and Jabez in the stables; for Aunt Pike had allowed them that much licence on this the first day of the holidays.

Then after dinner they all went up to Dan's room to help him to unpack, and there was no end of running backwards and forwards, looking at new treasures and old ones, and talking incessantly until the afternoon had nearly worn away without their realizing it.
"Um!" said Dan at last, pausing on the landing to hang over the banisters and sniff audibly.

"A--ha! methinks I smell the soul-inspiring smell of saffron! For thirteen long, weary weeks I have not smelt that glorious smell.

Oh yes, I have though, once.