"She does not look very sad," said Arthur, "so I suppose it is all right."
"How?" asked Nellie, but she guessed it must be little Charlie.
"It is all very well for you to laugh," said Christina to Arthur; "but it was a great grief to me, as well as a great joy."
"Do let us hear about it," said Tom.
"I told you that Mrs. Wood was to go home for Christmas. Well, a few days ago I received a note from her husband saying he should come to town to fetch her; for I had already arranged to see Mrs. Wood on her way through London.
"I therefore wrote to him, telling him to meet her at my house, as I should keep her till his arrival. Last Monday was the day fixed for her return, and about twelve o'clock Mr. Wood came to Sunnyside to see me.
"It would be impossible to tell you all he said of thanks to me for my efforts for her; but when he was a little calmed, I went to fetch Charlie. As you know, the little fellow is wonderfully improved since he came, but still looks delicate. His father, however, saw nothing but the improvement, and his joy was overpowering. To clasp the pretty, clean, well-cared-for little morsel in his arms again, was boundless delight.
"Charlie was a wee bit shy, but in a few minutes put his little head against his father's breast, and never offered to leave him again.
"Mr. Wood then asked me to allow him to share the expense of his wife's stay at the Home where she had received such benefit; but I knew their business had suffered much in consequence of her neglect of it, and I begged him to allow me to defray the whole of it, telling him it was freely given 'to the Lord.'
"'May He accept it, then,' he answered, 'and lay it up in heaven for you, for I can never, never repay my debt.'