Marian ran ahead to throw her arms around Mrs. Golding's neck. "I am so glad they sent me back to you," she cried. "I didn't say anything about it to my aunt because she would have sent me somewhere else. It doesn't do to let her know when you're too happy. She isn't a bit like you, not a bit." "No, I think not," was the response. "You see, dear, your neighbor, Mrs. Russel, is one of my old friends, and she has told me so much about your aunt I feel as if I know her. I am sure we are not alike." "Why, I should say not!" laughed Marian. "Why she's as thin as--as knitting needles, and you're as plump as new pin cushions. Won't we have fun this summer, though? Well, Carlo, old fellow. Didn't forget Marian, did he? Nice old doggie." "Down, sir!" Mrs. Golding commanded. "He is so glad to see you, Marian, he can't express his feelings without trying to knock you over." "I wish Uncle George owned a dog," commented Marian; "there'd always be some one glad to see you when you got home. I like dogs. Does the teacher come home at noon, Mrs. Golding?" "No, sometimes we don't see her until supper time. She won't be such jolly company for you as my girls. She's too quiet." "Is she cross, Mrs. Golding?" "No, oh, no indeed." "Then I shall like her," was the quick reply. There were callers in the late afternoon, so Marian wandered out alone. She had gone but a short distance down the lane when she saw dandelions ahead. She gathered a handful of the short-stemmed blooms and walked on. In the distance she heard a bluebird singing. Marian ran to find it and was rewarded by a flash of glorious blue as the bird sought a tree across the river. Marian followed it as far as she could, being obliged to stop at the river's bank. As she stood gazing after the bird, she was startled by a woman's voice. "What have you in your hand, little girl?" Turning, Marian saw a young lady sitting on a log near by. "Just dandelions," the child replied, and would have hidden the bunch behind her if the young lady had not forbidden it. "We all love dandelions, little girl," she said; "come and show them to me." Marian wonderingly obeyed. "Did you ever look at a dandelion through a microscope?" continued the young lady. "No, I never did." The stranger passed Marian a microscope and asked her to tell what she saw. "Oh, I never knew a dandelion was like this," said Marian; "why there are a thousand little blossoms in it all crowded together, and they are the goldenest golden ever was! Oh, oh, oh! Wasn't it lucky you were here so I could see through your microscope? What if I had never seen that dandelion!" "Would you like to borrow the microscope often?" asked the young lady, smiling so pleasantly Marian straightway decided that she was pretty. "Well, I should say yes, Miss--Miss--you see I don't know what your name is?" "Oh, that's so, I am Miss Smith, Miss Virginia Smith. Who are you?" "My name," was the reply, "is Marian Lee, but who I am I don't really know."