"Of course we shall. Ena says we can have him to lunch one day at the hotel if we like. Why, it'll be too jolly for anything!"
"Well, I'll try to like it," said Christina, resolving to swallow her fears and only think of the pleasure of seeing Dawn again.
She found Connie full of delight and importance at being included in the party.
"The mistress has told me I'm to be your maid and look after you, and as long as I don't have to manage Master Puggy I don't care. I've never been to London in my life. It'll be a great thing for me!"
Christina hardly understood how it was that every one that evening seemed to make so much of her. To her mind, what she had done for Susy seemed only what any one would have done. She did not consider herself a heroine, but the servants and even her father and mother alluded to it with pride in their tones, and all received her back with the warmest welcome. Mrs. Hallam, who seldom had much to say to the little girl, stooped and kissed her when she saw her.
"We're thankful to see you none the worse for that brute's blow!" she said. "And we're proud of you, Miss Tina; to think you stood up against the cowardly bully, when there's many a grown person would have thought twice of interfering with a man mad with drink!"
"But Susy was being hurt!" Christina exclaimed. "You wouldn't have let her be hurt if you'd been there, Mrs. Hallam!"
Mrs. Hallam made no reply. She did not feel at all sure in her own mind that she would have interfered.
"I should have sent the policeman," she agreed to herself. "What's the good of having one in the village if he's not to the fore at such times!"
When Christina was in bed that night her father came up to wish her good-night.