Then she and her husband thanked Miss Storey and Miss Anne with all their hearts for taking such care of Ivy. She looked so well, they said; so rosy and strong and healthy and happy.
And then they explained "why-because" this had come about. Ivy's daddy had been ill, and the doctor had said that he ought not to stay in Africa. And they had been very much puzzled what to do, for it had been an expensive voyage out, and they did not see how they could afford to return so soon. And while they were wondering what to do, an old uncle had died suddenly; and this kind old uncle left them some money. And that had made it easy for them to give up Africa, and to come back to dear old England.
"But will Ivy have to go away from here?" asked Hecla in dismay. "I do hope she won't. I want Ivy always."
It would indeed have been a great trouble to both the children, had they been separated. Very soon, however, they found to their delight that this was not to be. Mr. and Mrs. Croft wanted to have Hecla with them—always. They meant to take a house at Nortonbury, as near as possible to the Miss Storeys, and to live there; and they wished to bring up Hecla with Ivy, because it was not good for Ivy to be an only child. They feared that their darling might be too much indulged, and spoilt.
Miss Anne was grieved at the thought of losing both the children; yet she knew that it was better so. And she perhaps felt a little relieved too. For Miss Storey was not strong enough, since the river accident, to stand children constantly about; and Miss Anne wanted to be free to devote herself more entirely to her elder sister.
Besides, if Mr. and Mrs. Croft lived near, the children would be perpetually running in and out; and that would keep the aunts cheerful.
And was it not curious? Aunt Anne knew of a nice, pretty house, just the right size, with a garden, standing empty round the next corner.
Mr. Croft went off to see it directly after dinner. And he liked the house and the garden so much, that in a few days everything was settled.
So, though Hecla would no longer be all day long with Miss Storey and Miss Anne, she would be less than five minutes off. Ivy was delighted to have her dear Hecla with her in the new home. And Mr. and Mrs. Croft were so good, and kind, and gentle with her, that very soon it almost felt to Hecla like the days when she had her own mother and father.
"Mummie, why-because does Hecla kiss you so very, very much?" Ivy one day asked.