How beautiful everything was on that perfect summer day! The little girl's spirits began to rise, and a thrill of happiness stole into her heart, only to give place, a moment later, to a pang of sorrow at the thought that there was no dear mother with her now to enjoy the beauty on which she was feasting her eyes.
"But if it is so lovely here, how much lovelier must it be in Heaven," reflected Felicia, and the thought brought comfort with it.
At last the train slowed into the station at N—, and Felicia alighted on to the platform. She found she was the only passenger who left the train, which waited but a couple of minutes.
"Any luggage?" questioned the porter in the doorway, to whom Felicia tendered her ticket.
"No," she replied, colouring, as she noticed the curiosity of his glance. "Can you tell me the way to the Priory?" she inquired.
"FELICIA PUT HER HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW, AND TRIED TO SMILE."
"To the Priory?" His eyes travelled over her black dress, then rested on her face again. "Yes, certainly. Keep to your right through the village, go past the church and the Vicarage, and in about five minutes' walk from there you'll come to the Priory gate."
"Thank you," she responded politely.
"A friend of one of the servants, are you?" he asked, following her out of the station.