Archibald’s face reddened but there was a fine glow of happiness in it.
“I’m no talker, friends,” he said. His voice shook a little as he spoke. “I’m afraid I couldn’t even paint what I feel. It’s the sort of thing there’s no way of telling; but there’s one thing I do want to say. The Valley has given me more than I ever can pay; and, if you like Neighborhood House, I’m very happy; for I’ve had a hand in it. Miss Moran and Mr. Meredith and Dr. Fullerton and I have worked together to make the thing possible; but, though Miss Moran started me on the right track, it was Peggy O’Neill who taught me to neighbor. Neighborhood House came out of Pegeen’s heart. If you must thank somebody, thank her.”
“Pegeen! Pegeen! Peggy! Peg!” The whole crowd was calling—men, boys, women, girls—calling for Pegeen. Out on the stairs, where, with Richard Meredith, she had been caught in the crush, the small girl clung to the baluster, sobbing with excitement.
“Come, Peg. They want you.” Meredith lifted her in his arms, carried her down the steps and through the close pressing throng to where Archibald and the Smiling Lady stood, and set her on a chair beside them. Standing so, she could look over the crowd and be seen by all.
“Peg! Peg! Peg!” The greeting came with a roar.
Pegeen stood, smiling, trembling, her sensitive child face all a-quiver with feeling.
“Say something to them, Peg,” Archibald urged. She threw out her arms in a swift, inclusive gesture.
“Oh, I love you all so much!” she cried, in a choked little voice. “I love every single blessed one of you!”
There was no doubting it. Her face told it even more convincingly than her voice. She loved them all—and they knew it. No matter whom she happened to be seeing to, she was the Valley’s Pegeen.
“Three cheers for Peg!” Jimmy Dawes whooped shrilly, and the crowd responded with deafening enthusiasm, while Pegeen clung to Archibald’s shoulder and laughed and cried and loved everybody harder than ever.