So Faith waited till her aunt had left the room, and then she folded her hands and prayed in a whisper:
"Please, God, will you be so kind as to thank Mr. Cardwell for me, and will you tell him what a happy birthday I have had, and what an astonishing surprise it was to get that cabinet, and how I can hardly believe I have a hundred pounds all my own. I do thank him very, very much, and I thank you for letting me have it. Amen."
Downstairs Aunt Alice was saying to Granny:
"I hope it won't turn the child's head. Of course, it is much too big a sum to be handled by her. What should you advise, mother?"
"We must persuade her to put it into the bank for the present, and only draw a little at a time. He was a strange old man."
"Fred had no idea that it was anything beyond a cabinet. I must write to him about it, for of course this cheque can't be honoured."
Granny looked grave.
"I suppose not. The child may have trouble in getting the money."
"Oh, Fred is all right."
Granny smiled wisely, but said no more.