"I've packed and I've mended my coat and I've finished mother's comfy jacket that I began winter before last and I've said good-by to Rose and poor old Jimmy Chubb, who's awfully envious, 'cause he wanted to go to Troy to work in his uncle's store and he says it makes him mad to have a girl see the world 'fore he does, but I told him he ought to keep on at school, even if it was only Miller's Notch. And I've cleaned Little-Dad's pipes. And I've promised Bigboy and Pepperpot and Dormouse that they may all sleep on my bed to-night. I'm afraid Pepperpot--he's so sensitive--is going to miss me dreadfully!" Jerry tried to frown away the thought; she did not want it to intrude upon her joy. That last evening she sat quietly on the porch with one hand in her mother's and the other in Little-Dad's. Not one of them seemed to want to talk; Jerry was too excited and her mother knew that she could not keep a tremble from her voice. At nine o'clock Jerry declared that she'd just _have_ to go to bed so that the morning would come quicker. She kissed them both, kissed her mother again and again, then marched off with her pets at her heels. Far into the night her mother sat alone on the edge of the porch, staring at the stars through a mist of tears and praying--first that the Heavenly Father would protect her little Jerry always and always, and then that He would give her strength to let the child go on the morrow. When the parting came everyone tried to be very busy and very merry, to cover the heartache that was under it all; John Westley fussed with the covers and the cushions in the big car and had his chauffeur pack and repack the bags. Mrs. Allan and Mrs. Travis discussed the lunch that had been stowed away in the tonneau, as though the whole thing was only a day's picnic. Jerry, a funny little figure in her coat that was too small and a fall hat that Mrs. Chubb had made over from one of her mother's, was, with careful impartiality, bestowing final caresses upon Bigboy, Pepperpot, Silverheels, and her father and mother alike. Then, at the last moment, she almost strangled her mother with a sweep of her strong young arms. "Mumsey Sweetheart, if you want me _dreadfully_--you'll send for me," she whispered, stricken for a moment by the realization that the parting was for a very long time. Then, though her heart was almost breaking within her, Mrs. Travis managed to laugh lightly. "Need you--of course we won't need you! Climb in, darling," and she almost lifted the girl into the tonneau, where Mrs. Allan was already comfortably fixed. But at this moment Bigboy tried to leap into the car. When Dr. Travis gripped his collar he let out a long, protesting howl. "Oh, Bigboy--he _knows_! Let me say good-by again," cried Jerry, jumping out and, to everyone's amusement, embracing the dog. "You must be a good dog and take very good care of my Sweetheart and Little-Dad," she whispered. Then, standing, she looked around.