A GREAT SURPRISE FOR MURIEL WAKE
MOLLY JENKINS had not been many days at Boscombe before a decided change for the better was apparent in her appearance and spirits. A faint colour came to her cheeks, her smile was less sad, and her naturally brave heart took courage again. The children found her a pleasant companion. They spent many hours of the day in hovering around her as she sat on the sands, sometimes idle, but oftener with her work on her knee.
"I feel happier when I am employed," she told them, when they remonstrated with her for not taking complete rest; and so they allowed her to do as she pleased.
Marigold had heard from her mother on several occasions since she had been at Boscombe—bright, cheerful letters that showed how interested she was in hearing all her little girl's doings.
One morning Marigold came to Molly with a beaming face, to tell her that Mrs. Holcroft knew a lady who wanted to buy some Honiton lace flounces, and would Molly undertake to work them? The lady was not in immediate want of them, so the lame girl would be able to take her time over the work.
"Mother says if you can make the flounces the lady will be willing to pay a good price, and she thinks you had better write to her, and she will explain exactly what is wanted," Marigold said.
This Molly accordingly did, with the result that she obtained an order that would keep her busily employed for some months to come.
"I think it is so kind of your mother to interest herself in me," she told Marigold, who was as glad as she was herself that the business had been satisfactorily settled; "will you tell her how grateful I feel?"
Marigold assented. Her aunts were in the room at the time, and she could see that they were pleased also.
How fast the August days were slipping away! Muriel Wake bemoaned the fact bitterly one afternoon, as she sat by the lame girl's side on the beach. The two were alone, for Marigold had gone for a walk with her aunts.