There were several people in the car, and one, a lithe and active youth, leaped out and ran up the lane. Plainly he came to ask a question, for he dashed across the front yard toward where the family party were sitting on the porch.
"Oh, I say," he began, doffing his cap to the girls, "can you tell a fellow----"
His gaze had wandered, and now his speech trailed off into silence and his eyes grew as large as saucers. He was staring at the placidly-knitting Mrs. Castle, who sat listening to the Professor's booming voice.
"Grandma! Great--jumping--horse--chestnuts!" the youth yelled.
Mrs. Castle dropped her ball of yarn, and it went rolling down the steps into the grass. She laid down her knitting, took off the spectacles and wiped them, and them put them on again the better to see the amazed youth below her.
"Well," she said, at length, "I guess I'm caught."
"I'm going to call up the governor--and mom--and Lucy--and Jinny," gasped the young fellow, who had so suddenly laid claim to being Mrs. Castle's grandson. "I just want them to _see_ you, Grandma. Why--why, _where_ did you ever get those duds? And for all the world!--_you're knitting!_"
"You can call 'em up, Tommy," said the old lady, placidly. "I've got the bit in my teeth now, and I'm going to stay."
"Can we drive in here?" asked Master Tom, quickly, of the girls, whom he instinctively knew were in charge.
"Yes," said Lyddy. "Of course any friends of Mrs. Castle's will be welcome."
Tom sang out for the chauffeur to turn into the lane, and in a minute or two the motor party stopped in the grass-grown driveway within plain view of the people on the porch.
"Will you look at who's here?" demanded Master Tom, standing with his legs wide apart and waving his arms excitedly.
The rather stout, ruddy-faced man reading the Sunday paper dropped the sheet and gazed across at the bridling old lady.
"Grandma--if it isn't!" exclaimed one young lady, who was about nineteen.
"Mother Castle!" gasped the lady who sat beside Mr. Castle on the rear seat.
"Hullo, Grandma!" shouted the other girl, who was younger than Tom.
"I hope you all know me," said Grandmother Castle, rising and leaving her knitting in her chair, as she approached the automobile. "I thought some of sending for some more clothing to-morrow; but you can take my order in to-day."