Mrs.Surly was very curious, and somewhat suspicious on the subject of Gypsy's return to Yorkbury, under such peculiar circumstances.

Gypsy said that she left Boston quite suddenly, that they were not expecting her at home, and that she took so late a train for several reasons, but had not thought that it went no further than Rutland, till she was fairly started; which was true.
More than this, Mrs.Surly could not cross-question out of her, and she soon gave up trying.
Cousin Mary Ann wanted Mrs.Surly's company another day; so Gypsy took an early train for Yorkbury alone.
Gypsy never took any trouble very deeply to heart, and the morning sunlight, and the sight of the dear, familiar mountains, drove away, to a great extent, the repentant and anxious thoughts of the night.
As the train shrieked into Yorkbury, she forgot everything but that she was at home,--miles away from Boston, her mother near, and Tom, and the dear old days of paddling about on rafts, and having no dinner-parties to disgrace herself at, and no aunt to be afraid of.
It seemed as if every one she knew were at the station.

Mr.Surly was there, under strict orders from his wife, to watch for her every train till she came; and Mr.Fisher was there, just down on an errand from the mountains; and Mrs.Rowe and Sarah were walking up the street; and Agnes Gaylord was over at the grocer's, nodding and smiling as Gypsy stepped upon the platform; and there, too, was Mr.Simms, who had been somewhere in the cars, and who stepped into the coach just after she did.
"Why, Miss Gypsy!--why, really! You home again, my dear?
Why, your father didn't expect you!" "I know it," said Gypsy.

"Are they all well ?" "Oh, yes, yes, all well,--but to give them such a surprise! It is so exactly like you, my dear." "I don't like Boston," said Gypsy, coloring.

"I had a horrid time, and I came home very suddenly." "Don't like Boston?
Well, you _are_ a remarkable young lady!" exclaimed Mr.Simms, and relapsed into silence, watching Gypsy's flushed and eager face, as people watch a light coming back into a dark room.
"We have missed you up at the store, my dear," he said, after a while.
"Have you?
I'm glad.