Yes, Hecla knew this; and she knew now the consequences that might spring from wrong-doing. She did not forget. But it was very, very hard. Poor dear Trip looked so exhausted, and swam so heavily, and gasped so hard for breath, that she felt sure he would soon fall into the clutches of those big noisy geese, and would sink and drown, and never rise again to the surface of the pond. And this might be her last sight of dear Trip. And Chris—what would Chris say?
But she had promised again and again. She had said she would try her very best to be good and obedient.
"Yes, I'll come," she murmured, turning her back upon the pond, and trying hard not to cry. "Please, mayn't we run very fast, and then we can send somebody to save poor little Trip?"
Elisabeth was quite willing, and they set off at full speed, each taking one of Ivy's hands to help her along.
And before they were half-way to the gate of that same field, Trip came flying cheerfully after them, none the worse for his exciting chase. So soon as he found himself alone, he left the geese, and followed his friends.
Hecla was immensely relieved, and did not know whether to scold him or to kiss him. So she did both by turns, and both had much the same effect on Trip. She was very, very glad that she had not given way to the temptation to disobey Elizabeth.
They reached "The Cottage" in good time; but the mid-day meal was not to be so punctual as usual that day. As they arrived at the front gate, a fly from the station drove up and stopped. And a voice cried from within,—
"Ivy! Ivy! My little darling!"
"It's mummie!" Ivy exclaimed, getting pink all over her face.
In a moment, two people were out of the cab, and Ivy was folded in her mother's tight embrace, while her father was kissing the top of her head, and trying to get hold of a little bit of his child.