The Last Redmond Year Opens

           “Hereweare,allbackagain,nicelysunburnedandrejoicingasastrongmantorunarace,”saidPhil,sittingdownonasuitcasewithasighofpleasure.“Isn’titjollytoseethisdearoldPatty’sPlaceagain—andAunty—andthecats?Rustyhaslostanotherpieceofear,hasn’the?”

           “Rustywouldbethenicestcatintheworldifhehadnoearsatall,”declaredAnneloyallyfromhertrunk,whileRustywrithedaboutherlapinafrenzyofwelcome.

           “Aren’tyougladtoseeusback,Aunty?”demandedPhil.

           “Yes.ButIwishyou’dtidythingsup,”saidAuntJamesinaplaintively,lookingatthewildernessoftrunksandsuitcasesbywhichthefourlaughing,chatteringgirlsweresurrounded.“Youcantalkjustaswelllateron.WorkfirstandthenplayusedtobemymottowhenIwasagirl.”

           “Oh,we’vejustreversedthatinthisgeneration,Aunty.OURmottoisplayyourplayandthendigin.Youcandoyourworksomuchbetterifyou’vehadagoodboutofplayfirst.”

           “Ifyouaregoingtomarryaminister,”saidAuntJamesina,pickingupJosephandherknittingandresigningherselftotheinevitablewiththecharminggracethatmadeherthequeenofhousemothers,“youwillhavetogiveupsuchexpressionsas‘digin.’”

           “Why?”moanedPhil.“Oh,whymustaminister’swifebesupposedtoutteronlyprunesandprisms?Ishan’t.EverybodyonPattersonStreetusesslang—thatistosay,metaphoricallanguage—andifIdidn’ttheywouldthinkmeinsufferablyproudandstuckup.