She was riding faster than she had ever ridden before, and yet it seemed hours since she had left the mill when she at last reached the great gate with the avenue of locusts stretching beyond it.
Springing off the pony when it stopped at the steps, she rushed into the hall, snatched the letter from the table, and ran out again, only pausing for a hasty glance at the clock.

Mom Beck, who had heard the clatter of hoofs, the quick step on the porch, and the wild dash out again, feared that something was amiss, and came running to the door.
"What undah the sun is the mattah, honey ?" she called, but Betty was far down the avenue, and never paused to look back.
Lad, turned away from home, was not so willing to run now, and Betty could hear the train whistling up the road.

It was the seven o'clock mail train.
"Oh, Lad, hurry!" she urged.

"Dear, good old Lad, _please_ hurry! I'm so afraid we won't get there in time." Lad looked around at her and stopped still in the road.

The train whistled nearer.