“Dear fairy godmother it can’t make any difference in my love for you. I loved you first, you know. I shall always love you, but I want us to live together and be as happy as they are at the Warrens, and I love him, my new father, so much. When you have something of your very own it fills you everywhere like beautiful music. I’ve been learning how sweet and dear it can be. Oh, fairy godmother, I want you both. It would break my heart to lose either of you. Oh, fairy godmother, can’t you love him; can’t you, won’t you marry him and let us all live together?”
There was a penetrating sweetness in the pleading, but she saw the red of surprise mount to the very edge of the man’s hair, and almost a frown settle between the eyes. Her face dropped to the silken soft head and she felt the child’s heart beat tumultuously. To make the two who loved her happy—to have them for her own––
She reached out her hand—it was her right 297 hand. He caught it and pressed it to his lips with a fervor that thrilled every pulse of her being.
It was not the tie of kindred blood, but that divine immortal kindred of love, and as he clasped his arms about them both they were Father, Mother and Child.
And so, Marilla had not only the Fairy Godmother, but the Prince as well.