“Here comes the train!” shouted Veve suddenly.
Connie began to feel shivery inside. For just a minute she wasn’t certain she cared to leave her parents and travel to Minnesota.
“Have a good time, dear,” said her mother, stooping to kiss her. “It will only be a few days until we come for you.”
Other parents were saying good-bye to Rosemary, Jane, Eileen, Veve, and Sunny. Then the train rumbled into the station.
“Hurry or we’ll be left,” urged Veve as passengers began to alight.
“We have plenty of time,” replied Miss Gordon. “Please, girls, don’t shove.”
Although the Brownie leader said “girls,” she really meant Veve, who was trying to bore a hole through the crowd.
After all the passengers were off the train, Miss Gordon went aboard with her six charges. Mr. Williams helped her find seats for everyone.
“I think you will be quite comfortable,” said Mr. Williams. “Your train is due to arrive in Deerford at seven tonight.”
“Oh, Daddy, hurry and get off before the train starts,” Connie said anxiously. “You might be taken along.”
“I have plenty of time,” he replied. “But I’ll say goodbye now.”
Connie and Veve, who shared a seat, pressed their faces against the car window. Their mothers were standing near the train, watching.
“Goodbye!” the girls called out together.
They waved from inside the window. Their mothers waved in return and blew kisses. Then the train began to move.
Connie and Veve and the Brownies were on their way to Minnesota.
“I’m going to miss my mother a lot,” Veve sighed as she sank back on the seat.
Connie didn’t say anything. But from the way she looked, Veve knew she would miss her parents too. They both felt a bit homesick even though they weren’t a mile out of Rosedale.
Soon the train was traveling at full speed. Fields and houses rolled by just as if they were moving instead of the train.
“I know what let’s do,” proposed Veve. “Let’s count telegraph poles.”
For a little while this was great fun. Eileen and Jane, who sat in the seat across from Connie and Veve, tried it too.
At three hundred and four Veve lost count and didn’t want to play the game any more.
“What shall we do now?” she asked restlessly.
“Let’s just ride awhile,” Connie proposed.
Presently a cold draft of wind blew through the car. The conductor, who was fat and jolly, came down the aisle. He collected the tickets from Miss Gordon, and talked with the Brownies.