"God has made Evan better; the doctor says there is a wonderful change in him these last two hours."
"I'm so d'lad," whispered the child back. "I 'fought He would, Lucia."
[CHAPTER XI.]
EVAN IS GLAD.
EVAN'S illness made a great impression on the little community at the cottage. It was many days before he was considered well enough to join his brother and sisters, and even then he was very weak, and was carried out under the trees, not caring to exert himself in the least.
Ivor hovered round him, trying to show by his tender attentions how much he regretted his share in the trouble they had got into.
One morning, as Lucia sat by his side with her painting, she saw he was looking at her very earnestly, and bent down to him to hear what he had to say.
"Lucia," he said, looking rather abstractedly up into the tree, and through it to the blue sky beyond, "I've been thinking perhaps we ought to send back that little tricycle, and not use it any more."
"Why, dear?" she answered.
"Because it would serve us right for being so deceitful."