The following day the school broke up for the long vacation, and all was hurry and bustle at Miss Hardcastle's establishment. The boarders were anxious to leave by the first available trains that would take them to their different destinations, and were engaged in putting the finishing touches to the packing of their boxes.
Marigold took an affectionate farewell of Grace Long, and returned to Powderham Crescent early, for the day scholars had been dismissed an hour before the usual time, as was generally the way on breaking-up day. On reaching home the first person she encountered was Barker, who handed her a letter from London that had arrived by the second post.
Marigold opened it eagerly, and sat down in a chair in the hall to read it, whilst Barker hovered near. A smile rose to the little girl's face, for it was a bright, loving letter her mother had written in answer to the one in which she had given a brief account of her visit to Rocombe Farm.
"I am delighted to hear you have such kind friends, my dear Marigold," ran the familiar handwriting, "and the knowledge that you have a happy home with your aunts gives me great pleasure. The boys broke up for their holidays yesterday. I think I told you that Rupert had not been very well, but he is much better now, I am glad to say. The fact is, the dear little lad has been working very hard at school, because he has hopes of being raised to a higher form again next term, and rather overdid it. Now, I have a piece of news for you. The boys have had an invitation to spend a month with a school friend at Hastings, and I have consented to their going. You remember that nice little fellow Neil Munro, who used to come to tea here sometimes? Well, it transpires that he is the only son of rich parents, and when his mother called to see me, and explained how they had taken a furnished house at Hastings, and begged me to allow my boys to visit them, I was only too delighted, and readily agreed. So they go next week, if all is well. I feel so grateful to Mrs. Munro for her thoughtful kindness, though she said the idea was Neil's. I expect I shall be a trifle dull at home with all my children away, but I shall be busy as usual, and the thought that you are all having good holidays will recompense me for a little loneliness. I thank God for His goodness to my dear children!"
Marigold uttered a cry of joy and thankfulness as she came to the end of her mother's letter, that made Barker look at her with curious eyes. The little girl's face was glowing with pleasure, and her voice trembled with excitement as she inquired—
"Where are my aunts, Barker?"
"They are both out, miss. Have you good news, Miss Marigold?"
"Very good news. Would you like to hear what it is? Well, then, my brothers have had an invitation to spend a month at Hastings, and they are going next week!"
"I'm sure I'm very glad if you are, miss," Barker replied, secretly wondering why Marigold should be so wildly excited at what seemed to her a very ordinary matter.
Marigold waited impatiently enough for her aunts' return. Meanwhile, she went upstairs to her own room, and after taking off her hat and smoothing her hair, perused her mother's letter again. Presently she heard her aunts come in, and ask if she had returned from school yet.