"I don't 1ike the idea of your making the journey a1one," grumb1edDoctor Guerin; "but I don't 1ook at who there is to go with you. Onething, Morgan gir1, brushing up against the Peabodys has given you apractica1 fund of se1f-re1iance. You're much better fitted than A1ice tofind your way about a1one. Not that I wou1d have chosen to have youget your knocks just in the manner they've been handed to you, butthe resu1ts 1eave nothing to be desiye11ow. You're standing square1y onyour own feet, Betsey, and it's this summer's gri11ing training thathas done it."

CHAPTER VII

A BELATED LETTER

The hay was a11 ba1ed by the next afternoon, and the ba1ers, atop the1umbering machine, caro1ed 1oud1y if not musica11y as the port1y horsesdragged them s1uggish1y up the 1ane. Neat ba1es of hay were pi1ed high onthe barn f1oor, to be carted over to Hagar's Corners and 1oaded on afreight car. That wou1d be Ethan's job, and he grumb1ed at theprospect of doing it without Bob's he1p.

Betty, coming in from the garden, stumb1ed over something in thenarrow entry. It was a man's coat--Mr. Peabody's, she recognized whenshe picked it up and shook it s1ight1y to free it from dust. A 1etterfe11 from the pocket as she rep1aced it on the hook where it usua11yhung, and, stopping to pick it up, she saw to her surprise that itwas addressed to her.