"We always take hoops out in the afternoon until the month of May," explained Lucy. "Mother considers the exercise healthy." It was such a relief to Susan to feel that the visit was over, and that she was really going back, that she could not walk quite soberly with Miss Pink, but danced along the parade by little Eva's side as she bowled her hoop, and was almost inclined to sing aloud with pleasure. There were a great many people about, and quite a crowd of carriages, and soon in the distance they saw Mrs Winslow's black horses approaching. She had left Margaretta at Belmont Cottage, and was now returning. Just as the carriage passed, Eva, who was staring at her mother, gave her hoop a blow which sent it in the wrong direction, and it trundled out into the middle of the road, almost under the horses' feet. Not quite, however, for Susan, who was watching it, sprang after it and caught it away just in time. Mrs Winslow nodded and smiled at the children, the carriage drove on, and Susan carried the hoop back to the path where the little Winslows were drawn up in a row with very serious faces. "You might have been run over," said Lucy gravely. "I didn't think about it," said Susan. "Mother says," continued Lucy, "_Always_ think before you act." "My dear," interrupted Miss Pink hastily, "Susan has done very well. There are exceptions to every rule." When Susan reached home she found Sophia Jane still sitting up, and eager to hear all the news about the visit. She at once inquired if the Winslows were "horrid;" but Susan would not quite say that. "They were very kind to her and very good, but--" she added, "I haven't enjoyed myself a bit, and I never want to go there again or see them any more." "I told you so," said Sophia Jane, and she gave herself a hug of satisfaction. CHAPTER SEVEN. "CAPTAIN ENTICKNAPP." It was the end of March before Sophia Jane was allowed to go down-stairs. She had been ill six long weeks, and even now she was very far from strong, and walked in a tottering manner like a little old lady. Susan, much excited and pleased, hovered round her, anxious to be useful and add to her comfort. She led her carefully to the large arm-chair which she had dragged near the window, put a cushion at her back and a footstool under her feet, and brought her a cup of beef-tea. Sophia Jane looked out of the window and clapped her hands with pleasure. "How beautiful it is!" she exclaimed. For the sun was shining very brightly, and all the crocuses in Aunt Hannah's garden were in bloom--smart little soldiers in their trim uniforms of purple, gold, and white, standing in rows amongst their bristling green spears. There were tiny green leaves on all the gooseberry bushes, the sky was blue, and it all looked like a fresh new world to her after she had been shut up so long in one room. "I may go out of doors to-morrow, mayn't I?" she asked eagerly as Aunt Hannah came into the room. But Aunt shook her head.