CHAPTER XVIII

A FULL CUP OF HAPPINESS

The letter was from Peter, as Janet had hoped. She opened it eagerly and read:

"_Dear Janet:_

"Mrs. Todd says that I really ought to send you a telegram, but a letter can say so much more, and I have a whole lot to say.

"First of all, I came to Boston intending to get something to do as a first step toward the West, but would you believe it whom should I run into the day after I landed but Doc. He grabbed me by the arm, and I felt the way I did the day Mr. Simpson appeared in the doorway of the 'E.K.' He hardly spoke to me, but hustled me off to his house, and there I found the explanation of his queer behavior.

"Mrs. Todd was sitting in the office waiting for me! My ears still tingle when I remember what she said! But I guess I deserved it. And now comes the amazing part of my story.

"I am going to school. She and Doc, who are old friends, by the way, insist upon it. Then, next spring, one of my 'E.K.' schemes is coming true. Mrs. Todd is going to let me raise sheep on her place. This is all thanks to you, Princess, and some day I'm going to show you that I am really grateful.

"Mrs. Todd wants me to tell you that she will be back within a few days, and she hopes it will be in time for your surprise. What is your surprise?

"Yours in the bonds of the E.K. "PETER GIBBS."

Janet read the letter aloud to Phyllis and explained the parts of it that she did not understand.

"I knew Mrs. Todd would do something like that," Janet exclaimed, delightedly.

"She must be a dear," Phyllis said. "I'm crazy to meet her."

It seemed to Janet that with this last good news her cup of happiness was full to overflowing.

The next few days passed all too hurriedly. They spent them out of doors for the most part, either driving or paddling on the bay.

Phyllis added admiration to her affection for Janet. It seemed to her that she could do almost everything in the outdoor line and do it well. As a city girl she marveled and predicted a great success in athletics at school.

The day before the tea was so warm and sunshiny that they decided to have a picnic out in the woods. Martha packed them a basket filled with twice as much as they needed, and they made an early start.

They walked out into the country beyond the village, and Tom chose a sheltered corner under the lee of a hill, and built a fire. Janet helped him, and together they roasted potatoes and broiled a steak. Auntie Mogs and Phyllis watched and offered suggestions. Phyllis upset a jar of Martha's specially preserved peaches, but only Tom saw her, and she scooped them back into the glass, only adding a pine needle or two.

"Tommy, don't you dare to tell," she whispered, and Tom, who had dropped the steak only the minute before had to promise.

It was a merry little party, and Tom kept them all laughing with tales about picnics and camping trips out in the West.

"Tommy, I think, now that you have found two new and perfectly nice sisters, that the least you could do would be to invite them out to pay you a visit," Phyllis suggested airily.

"Oh, you do, eh?" Tom asked lazily.

"Of course I do; don't you, Janet?"--Phyllis turned for support.

"I do," Janet answered solemnly.

"Children, you have no manners," Auntie Mogs chided. "If I were Tom, I should never think of asking you now."

"Just as I feel about it,"--Tom tried to make his voice sound very dignified and cold and failed utterly. "I intended asking you all next summer, but of course now I shall limit my invitation to just you, Aunt Mog, and I do hope you will accept."

"Indeed I will," Auntie Mogs answered laughingly.

"Meanie," Phyllis teased. "If you ever did such a thing! But seriously, Tommy, did you mean to ask us next summer?"

"I did."

"Then we'll accept with thanks; won't we, Janet?"

"Oh, yes; can't we leave the day after school closes?" Janet suggested. "There's no use in wasting time."

"Or even before,"--Phyllis was not to be outdone.

"Here, here," Tom protested, "not quite so fast. I accept your acceptance of my ungiven invitation, but I insist on naming the day.

"I stump you both to climb that tree over there," he added, pointing to a tall pine; "the one who wins can have the last piece of cake."

Both girls started for the tree. Janet was almost to the top before Phyllis was half way up. As she climbed down again she noticed that Phyllis was very white and standing perfectly still, holding tightly to the trunk.

"What's the matter!" she asked.

Phyllis looked at her beseechingly.

"Oh, Janet, I'm scared to death," she whispered. "I looked down and now I am terribly dizzy; what shall I do!"

Janet came close and took hold of her arm.

"Keep your eyes on the sky," she directed. "Don't look down for even a second and don't be afraid. I'm here and I won't let you fall."

She dropped quickly to the branch below and took one of Phyllis's ankles in her strong grasp.

"Hold tight to the bough above and let your foot swing free, I'll put it on a safe branch. There now, bring the other one down beside it." In this way she helped her carefully and surely to the bottom.

"Oh," Phyllis was almost in tears, "thank you, darling. I am quite sure you saved my life. Oh, dear, I'm still dizzy."

"Well, stand still a minute until you are better. There's no need for Tommy to know. He'd be sure to tease," Janet whispered.

"I don't care about Tom, but I hate being such a baby. You went way to the top," Phyllis answered.

"You tried, anyway," Janet consoled her, "and that's what counts."

"You're a darling to say so, anyway," Phyllis said gratefully. "I feel better now; let's go back."

Tom held the cake out to Janet.

"It's yours, you won by a dozen branches. What happened, Phyllis? Did you get scared?"

"Of course not," Janet answered for her. "I promised to go halves, so what was the need of her climbing too,"--she held out a piece of the cake, and Phyllis took it.

"Oh, come, that's not fair," Tom protested. "You should eat every bit of it yourself."

"No, we're twins and we have to share everything," Janet insisted. "Isn't that so, Phyllis?"

Phyllis nodded seriously.

"Everything," she said, and it sounded like a prophecy.

On the way home Mrs. Todd called them as they passed the rectory. She had only just returned, and she was so delighted at Janet's good fortune that she kissed her, much to every one's surprise.

"Please tell me about Peter," Janet whispered, when she had the opportunity.

"Peter is a rogue," Mrs. Todd answered, "but I can't help loving him, and he has promised to be my right hand for the rest of my days. I had a hard time making Dr. Peabody agree to my schemes, but I am a very determined woman, once my mind is made up, and so he had to give in finally."

"What have you made your mind up to this time, Ann?" Miss Carter inquired, from the other side of the room.

"A red-headed boy," Mrs. Todd laughed. "I have seen enough of all my friends with children to think about and I've made up my mind to have one too. I wanted Janet, but I knew you'd find her some day, Marjorie, and so I found Peter. He's alone and so am I. I think we are going to have a very good time together--raising sheep," she added with a twinkle in her eye.

"Isn't it wonderful about Peter?" Janet asked as she walked home beside her aunt.

"Indeed it is, my dear," Auntie Mogs agreed. "Ann is a darling under her bruskness, and she is very fond of you, dear."

"Well, I love her too," Janet replied; "she has been so good to me."

Miss Carter put her arm through hers and looked down at her with serious eyes.

"It would be difficult to imagine any one being anything else. Dear little girl," she added tenderly, "you are very like your beautiful mother. Do you think you could be happy with Phyllis and me? We want you very much indeed."

"Oh, Auntie Mogs," Janet said in a queer little voice, "I want you too."