"I'M GIVING IT TO YOU, AND THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT ARE
REALLY MY VERY OWNEST PRESENT TO YOU."
It was a pretty sight to see them together, Ivy, with her cheeks pink and her brown eyes wide open, slowly making her way into packet after packet, and Hecla, kneeling by her side, in a state of rapturous delight.
Miss Storey and Miss Anne exchanged looks of pleasure, both of them smiling; and yet tears with both were not far off, as they thought of the little one's past danger, and her merciful preservation and recovery.
Happily, in a few days, little Ivy was herself again; and in a few weeks, she became as strong as ever, with no ill results from the accident.
Miss Storey was fairly well again, but not so strong as she had been, for at the best she was never strong. She had acted so bravely at the time, that it had been a great strain upon her; and it seemed to have left a weakness behind. She could not bear any sudden noise, and everything seemed to startle and frighten her; and she could stand very little fatigue.
Miss Anne had to keep the children as much as possible away from her. That made Miss Anne very busy, as you may imagine; the more so because Miss Storey now wanted more looking after, and depended more upon her companionship than before the accident.
Sometimes Miss Anne wondered whether it would be possible to go on very much longer like this. But she said nothing, only did her best day after day, and waited to see what might be the right plan in the end.
And Hecla was really trying to be good, trying to do what was right. That week had left its marks on her life. She knew her faults, and fought to conquer them. Often she forgot, and often she failed; but on the whole there was a steady improvement.
She and little Ivy did everything together, and were like sisters. And towards Ivy, it seemed that Hecla's carelessness was quite cured. She was so careful of the little one, so tender towards her, so full of thought for her comfort and safety, that the aunts often said thankfully one to the other, "Really, having Ivy here will be the making of our dear Hecla!"