[When it first sprung up, a most exhilarating shout issued from the group], then in perfect silence, they all followed with their eyes, every motion of the graceful form, and when it was gone, Frank was the first to exclaim, 'was it not glorious!' 'Glorious! glorious!' they all uttered. There seemed to be no damper to their enjoyment; each one talked as fast as he could, of its grace, beauty, motion and colour; and every now and then, turning to Frank, they said,
'It is all owing to you; was it not worth coming for? I am glad you did not move off with that cowardly band, we should have lost all our fun.'
Frank's heart did not echo this sentiment, and his former feelings returned; his sense of duty was too keen to leave him in quiet possession of his triumph, and he said nothing to all their congratulations. Some of the boys thought this was owing to modesty, but William Gardiner suspected the true cause.
All marks of the proceeding were carefully obliterated, and the spot covered with stones, both for the purpose of concealment, and to note the scene of their festivity. At half an hour before sunset, the whole party met at the foot of the hill, where they had left their cart. No questions were asked by the smaller number, when they came up. They had gathered a large basket full of wild flowers, which they had laid in wet towels, to keep them fresh, that they might present them to Mrs. Reed. She was very fond of flowers, and usually had her parlour ornamented with them, from the earliest in spring, to the latest of autumn. These wild flowers reminded Frank of his mother, for whom he had so often gathered them, and a sadness came over him.
'I wish I had gathered some for Mrs. Reed,' exclaimed he.
'Do you,' said Tom Blanchard; 'I will give you a bunch of mine.'
'No, I thank you, I cannot tell her I gathered them myself.'
'That's honest,' said the captain; 'no, let the boys have their flowers, they have a right to all the praise.'