"We will give our little Sunbeam a warm welcome, at any rate," she added with a smile.
All day, she had gone about her household duties with the happiest of hearts, and every now and again she had run upstairs to make sure that Peggy's bedroom was quite in order. For her husband, who had gone to Cornwall a few days previously, was expected to bring his little daughter home that night. Needless to say, Billy was no less delighted than his mother at the prospect of so soon seeing Peggy again; whilst Sarah, in the kitchen, had opened the door, that she might hear the expected cab pull up before the house, and kept the kettle on the boil in readiness to make tea the minute the travellers should arrive.
"Here they are!" cried Billy excitedly, at last, and, followed by his mother, he rushed into the passage, almost colliding with Sarah, who was hurrying from the kitchen, and flung wide the front door, admitting as he did so a blast of cold wind.
"Don't go out into the rain, Billy," advised Mrs. Pringle, her face aglow with expectancy. "See, your father is lifting Peggy out of the cab; he will bring her straight in."
The next minute, Peggy was in her mother's arms, rapturously returning her mother's welcoming kiss; then came Billy's turn to be embraced, and after that, Sarah's. The little girl's countenance was one beam of happiness, and her cheeks were so rosy that her brother gazed at her in surprise.
"Why, Peggy, how you've altered!" he cried. "And I do believe you've grown!"
"I'm sure she has," Mrs. Pringle agreed. "She is looking remarkably well. She left home as white as a lily, and she has returned like a red, red rose."
"Are you glad I've come home?" Peggy asked, not because she was in the least doubtful on the point, but because it was so sweet to know she had been missed and how welcome was her presence at home once more.
"Glad?" exclaimed Billy, "I should think we are! We've all of us missed you most dreadfully, Peggy. Even Mr. Maloney noticed that the house seemed quite different without you!"
"Yes; but now our little Sunbeam has returned to us," Mrs. Pringle said lovingly, "and it is such happiness to have her given back to us well and strong!"