Shewasnearingherfifteenthbirthday，andthoughalmosteveryletterbroughtaninvitationtovisitthemanseinthebackwoods，itwasonlywhenthegirl\'spalecheekandlanguidairawakenedherfather\'sanxietythatshewasallowedtoaccepttheinvitationtospendsomeweeksinthecountry。
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WhenRanaldandHughiedroveuptothemanseonSaturdayeveninginthejumperthewholehouseholdrushedforthtoseethem。Theywereworthseeing。BurnedblackwiththesunandtheMarchwinds，theywouldhaveeasilypassedforyoungIndians。Hughie\'sclotheswereamelancholyandflutteringruin；andwhileRanald\'sstouthomespunsmockandtrousershadsuccessfullydefiedthebush，hisdarkfaceandunkempthair，hisroughdressandheavyshantyboots，madehimappear，toMaimie\'seyes，anuncouth，ifnotpitiable，object。
\"Oh，mother！\"criedHughie，throwinghimselfuponher，\"I\'mhomeagain，andwe\'vehadasplendidtime，andwemadeheapsofsugar，andI\'vebroughtyouawholelot。\"Hedrewoutofhispocketsthreeorfourcakesofmaplesugar。\"Thereisoneforeach，\"hesaid，handingthemtohismother。
\"Here，Hughie，\"shereplied，\"speaktoyourcousinMaimie。\"