"Tell her how much I miss them all," said the little girl. "But please say, too, that I am sure I shall be very happy here, because every one is so kind to me, and it is a lovely, lovely place! And, please don't forget to send my dear love!" And for a few minutes, her blue eyes were full of tears.
"Peggy," said Mrs. Tiddy by-and-by, "I have heard all the details in connection with your accident from my husband, and I do not wonder it was a shock to your nerves. Is your shoulder quite well now, dear?"
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Tiddy. It got well very quickly. Every one said it was a wonder I was not killed; but I think myself God took especial care of me, because He knew I wasn't quite like other people—not being able to see, you know. Mr. Maloney—that's the Vicar of St. John's—thinks so too. Wasn't it strange that it should have been mother's aunt who was in the carriage?"
"Very. Your mother never sees her Aunt Caroline, does she?"
"Never. Do you know her, Mrs. Tiddy?"
"No, though, of course, I have heard a good bit about her from your mother."
"Billy and I never heard of her at all till my accident. I don't think she can be nice; and Billy said she looked very proud. I heard her speak, but I was too frightened then to take much notice of her voice. I always tell what people are like by their voices."
"Do you, my dear?"
"Yes," Peggy nodded. "I knew Mr. Tiddy was good and kind, the moment I heard him speak: I felt I could trust him. Do you know, I quite enjoyed the journey yesterday, after we had properly started. Of course, I didn't like saying good-bye to mother and father. I had never been in a corridor-train before, and we had dinner at a big table just as though we were in a proper room, and there was a kitchen on the train, and cooks. Oh, how Billy would have liked to have been there! What a lot I shall have to tell him when I go home! Oh, Mrs. Tiddy, it was kind of you to think of inviting me to stay with you!"
"I am sure your visit will be a great pleasure to me, my dear," Mrs. Tiddy replied cordially. "And I shall be well content, if I can send you home with roses in your cheeks. To-morrow I will take you into the village and down to the beach; but I must not let you do too much on your first day. There, I have finished my letter, and can now have an idle hour before tea."