Such a day came after a week of alternate rain and wind and sleet, and the sisters gladly found themselves speeding away from home and from the city streets. The fresh air, the sunshine, and the rapid motion had an exhilarating effect upon their spirits after the confinement of the last few days, and the burden of doubt and dread that had fallen on them grew lighter. The last English letter had been less discouraging than the former ones; Frederica was growing better and stronger, and they were more cheerful and lively than they had been for a long time. Neither Madame Precoe nor Miss Agnace was with them, and they amused themselves with making plans as to what they were to do when their father came home. For a long time it had been, "If papa comes home," but to-day they said cheerfully, "When papa comes home." "Oh, how glad papa will be to see us all again!" said Frederica. "And, Lena and Tessie, I think he must have changed in some things." "He will be glad to get home, I am sure; but as to his being changed--I don't know about that," said Tessie. "He has suffered so much," said Frederica; "and God sends suffering to do people good. And besides, Cecilia's letters make me think so." "And his little letters to us," said Selina. "Oh! if he were only safe home with us again!" said Frederica. "This has been such a long winter, and I am afraid to think of the summer without papa or any one." "Any one! We have only too many people;" and Tessie went on to say something not at all polite about Madame and Father Jerome, and they were in danger of taking up their burden again as they came back to the town. "Where are we?" asked Selina as the street noises told her they were near home. "We are in M--Street, near where the tall poplars are. They are building a new house, and the fence has fallen down, and there are a great many sleighs passing along," said Frederica, as her manner was, using her eyes for her sister's benefit; and then Tessie went on,-- "And here are school-boys, hundreds of them, I should think. Listen to the noise as they pass. A shabby lot they are. The Brothers should dress their boys in uniform--they would look much nicer. One would think all the old clothes in the town had been collected for their benefit." "Listen," said Selina suddenly, "Some one is calling Fred." They listened, but amid the jingling of bells and the trampling of feet nothing was heard. "It was Charlie's voice. I am quite sure it was Charlie's voice," said Selina. "But Lena dear, it is quite impossible," said Tessie. "Charlie is far away." "It was Charlie's voice. First he called `Fred,' and then `Lena, Lena.'"