Harebell's face was alive with excitement and interest now.
"Yes, dear. She wants you to know about it. You are a little girl and cannot understand about grown-up people. But we very often are no different to naughty children, only we are bigger; it has been a great sorrow to her, and I am sure it has been a sorrow to him. He has returned to England very ill, and when he reached London, the doctor told him he must have an operation or he would die. Then he wrote to your aunt, and asked her to come to him; and she went off at once, as you know. The operation has been successful, and your aunt is coming home with him next week. She has had a sad life for many years, and now I hope she will have a happy one."
"Then I expect she's melted at last?"
"How do you mean?"
"Oh, she has been a snow queen, you know! I've always felt it. I'm very glad, Mrs. Garland. It will be so nice to have an uncle. Perhaps he will be like Mr. Graham, or is he like Aunt Diana? Does Andy know? He'll be so pleased. He says a house without a master is as bad as a garden without a gardener! It is simply lovely! You know when Andy told me about it, I prayed hard to God about him, and asked Him to bring him back. Then I forgot all about it. That's the worst of me, I never keep on—but there's always fresh things happening. I'm telling God about Tom now, and that's very special—and I can't think of everybody, every day."
"I think you ought to thank God for answering your prayers about your uncle. We so often forget to say 'Thank you' for what He sends us."
Harebell looked very grave.
"I expect Aunt Diana won't want me, now she will have Uncle Herbert. She never did want me, you know. You said so!"
Mrs. Garland was about to speak, but she was suddenly called to the house by the Rector, and the little talk was over.
Harebell again found it difficult to give her attention to her lessons.