“No one loves him as I do,” she moaned.
“I love him dearly. You children have been like my own, I have had so much of the care of you.”
“But I love him so dearly, and if he should get weaned away! Why, I should be heartbroken!”
“My dear!” Aunt Kate sat on the side of the bed, bathed her head with fragrant water and comforted her with endearing terms until she grew tranquil and finally fell asleep.
Mrs. Crawford had seated herself on the couch and motioned Marguerite beside her.
“My dear daughter,” she said, steadying her voice, “heaven only knows how glad I am to have you and we must comfort one another. I had dreaded Willard going, but God has been good to me and sent you just when I needed you most. We shall be very happy in each other’s society, I foresee. You will be my girl as Zay is Aunt Kate’s. Willard is so interested in you, and when it is a little pleasanter we will go driving together. I like the byways and the nooks and the wild flowers. Oh, do you think you could learn to ride? You would not be afraid! Father is so fond of it. Oh, the rides we used to have in our early life!”
Marguerite’s eyes lighted with eager pleasure. “Oh, I should like it,” she returned, earnestly.
“And he is so fond of it. It seems as if he had given up so many things for me. I used to go out to the Stations with him and live in the Forts. What magnificent gallops we have had. I don’t wonder the boys were imbued with the love of military life, their father was such an ardent soldier. We were very happy with our boys but we did want a daughter. I was so proud of the twins, perhaps too proud. Yet I do not think we can love these choice gifts of God too much, so long as we are grateful to the giver. Then there came all the sorrowful years. For a long while they thought I never would walk again. The Major resigned from the army and I know it was a sore cross to him. But we took much pleasure in educating our boys, and Zay was such a bright, winsome little thing. Her passion is dancing and being merry. She loves to go out driving but I think she is afraid of managing a horse. Her father tried to train her a little but she cried and begged off, and the boys have been away so much. Oh, it will give him the greatest pleasure.”
“And I want to devote my life to your happiness to make up for the years when you did not have me. You must train me in your ways, you must tell me what he likes best.”
“Oh, my darling!”