Mrs. Churchill had, however, already hinted to May that she would like to be present, but May had her own ideas on the subject, and she accordingly acted on them.
“John, may I invite Miss Webster to be with me when baby is born?” she said to her husband, and John Temple immediately assented.
“Of course, my dear, invite whoever you like,” he answered, kindly. “Yes, I think Miss Webster would be a very good person for you to have with you; she is a motherly woman, though she has never been a mother.”
“Thank you, dear John,” replied May; “I shall be so glad if she will come.”
“It’s strange Webster will never come here,” went on John Temple; “I’ve asked him three times, you know, May.”
“He’s such a busy man, I suppose; then I will write to Miss Webster to-day, John.”
And May did write, and Miss Webster accepted the invitation. Both the sisters had been previously asked to Woodlea, but an illness of Miss Eliza’s had prevented their going. Now, however, Miss Eliza was well enough to be left, and Miss Webster wrote that she looked forward with sincere pleasure “again to kiss the sweet face” she “so often thought of.”
May also was truly delighted to see once more the kindly woman under whose hospitable roof she had once spent such bright hours of hope and happiness. She drove to the station to meet Miss Webster. She showed her, with modest pride, all the tiny treasures she had prepared, and in which Mrs. Temple had no interest.
“And how is Mr. Webster?” she asked, shortly after Miss Webster arrived.