“Forgive an old man’s sentiment,” he said to her, with his gentle sad smile; “as she was the first to let sunshine into my life again, I wanted her to be the first to let it into my house too.”
“I know, I understand,” said Mrs. Carlyon softly; “you are very brave.”
Then Loveday, with a cry of joy, relieved the tension of the moment, and every one felt grateful to the unconscious little maiden.
“O mummy!” she cried excitedly, “mummy! do look! Here is a dear dinky little cup with ‘Loveday’ on it. Then they do paint ‘Loveday’ on things sometimes, and that woman told a story when she said they didn’t.”
Mr. Winter turned to her with a pleased smile.
“That was my Grannie’s cup,” he said, “made on purpose for her, and that was her name; and as you are the only other Loveday I have ever known, I am going to ask you to use it, and after that to accept it from me as a little keepsake from the ogre to the pisky.”
At which Loveday gasped and squealed again more delightedly than ever, and from that moment forgave him for her humiliation, even going so far as to admit him as one of her very best friends.
It was a very pleasant tea that, and one none of them ever forgot, though it was not entirely joyous, owing to the many memories called up, and the thought of the parting on the morrow, which was hanging over them all.
But when the next morning came and the actual parting, the spirits of most of them were not as low as they had thought they would be, for they were going home, and that is always pleasant, and there was the journey and the drive. And what an exciting, bustling time it was, packing up the last things and getting off. The children had so many more treasures too--buckets and spades, shells and pebbles and seaweeds; and Loveday had her tea-cup too, which had to be packed with special care in Mrs. Carlyon’s best hat-box. And then, when at last they reached the wind-swept station, and Priscilla in her blue cloak, and Loveday in her red one, were standing on the platform, who should appear but Mr. Winter himself to see them off!
“I thought I might be of some use in helping you,” he said kindly. “Is there anything I can do? Tell me, please, if there is.”
“Oh, will you please hold this?” gasped Loveday eagerly, pointing to the hat-box which she and Priscilla were guarding. “My cup is in it, and I am so afraid some one will run into us and joggle it.”