"I am very glad to make your acquaintance—" Miss Barton was beginning when she paused and looked puzzled. "Have we met before?" she proceeded doubtfully; "I don't think I remember you, my dear."
"But I remember you!" Felicia burst forth. "Oh, it is wonderful—wonderful! Of course you don't remember me, although it was only such a short time since we met, for you only saw me for a minute. You gave me some lilies—beautiful white lilies; I took them home to my mother, and she said they came like a message from God to remind her of His promises. Don't you remember me now? I was looking in the window of that big shop in Park Street, and you came out with a great bunch of lilies in your hand, and you never said a word—ah, you remember now!"
Miss Barton had but a slight recollection of the personal appearance of the child who had been the recipient of her impulsive gift, and she looked both surprised and puzzled, whilst Mrs. Pring and her little daughters regarded Felicia in amazement, wondering to see her so excited.
"I am afraid I don't really remember you," Miss Barton admitted frankly; "that is to say, I do not recognise you as the same little girl to whom I gave the flowers."
"Oh, but I am the same!" Felicia broke in eagerly. "Oh, it was good and kind of you! I wish you could have seen mother's face when she caught sight of the lilies, and what do you think she said afterwards?—'God bless the young lady who gave them to you, whoever she is.' Oh, I never thought I should see you again! How very, very glad I am!"
Miss Barton smiled very kindly at the excited child, and said she was delighted—and she looked it—to hear that the flowers had given Mrs. Renford pleasure, whilst Mrs. Pring, grasping the situation at last, put her arms around her niece and gave her a loving kiss ere she left the schoolroom in search of her husband to tell him that Felicia and the governess had met before.
Felicia was happier to-day than she had been since her mother's death, and when, lessons over at four o'clock, she returned to the Priory, there was a little pleased smile on her lips, and a faint flush on her generally pale cheeks. Price informed her that the master was out, but that Mr. Guy wished to see her at once. She immediately went to her uncle's sitting-room, and found him lying on the sofa by the window as usual. A table at his side was littered with papers and magazines, but he pushed it away as his niece entered.
"Come here, Felicia," he said, "and tell me how you like your governess."
"Like her? Why, I love her!" she cried enthusiastically, "there isn't anything I wouldn't do for her!"
"Really? Why, it must have been a case of love at first sight. I had no idea you were such an impressionable little creature. How bright you look—and happy."