BACK AT LONE-ROCK All the rest of the way to Lone-Rock, Mary's waking moments were spent in anticipating her arrival and planning diversions for the days to follow.

Now that she was so near, she could hardly wait to see the family.

The seven months that she had been away seemed seven years, judging by her changed outlook on life.

She felt that she had gone away a mere child, and that she was coming back, years old and wiser.

She wondered if they would notice any difference in her.
That Mrs.Ware did, was evident from their moment of greeting.