"My dear boy—" commenced Mrs. Wallis, remonstratingly; but Eric broke in:
"Oh, mother, you know he was very unjust to poor Joy! I should have liked him from the first but for that. I feel I really do like him now, for he's been wonderfully generous to us all. Has he discovered the real owner of the novel which Wag destroyed, then, Joy?"
Joy shook her head; and her brother suddenly became very thoughtful.
"I told you everything would come right, my dear," Mrs. Wallis said, affectionately; "I knew it was impossible for anyone to live long under the same roof with my Joy and not find out her true character. Celia will be very relieved at the turn matters have taken."
"Yes," agreed Joy, avoiding her mother's eyes, "I think—I am sure she will."
The girl was blissfully happy. She practised the piano nearly all the morning, stimulated by Sir Jasper's assurance that her talent should be cultivated. That meant that he intended to give her a musical education, she knew. Bright dreams of the future occupied her mind. She would work hard, and get on as well as ever she could, and Sir Jasper would see how deeply she appreciated his kindness, and how truly grateful she was.
In the afternoon Lawrence Puttenham appeared at the Moat House, and Joy and Eric accompanied him in a long ramble through the shady lanes where the nuts on the hazel bushes were beginning to harden, and turn brown, for August was nearly out, and autumn's ripening touch was plainly discernible everywhere. Then Lawrence Puttenham took his friend back to the Vicarage to tea with him; and Joy, on her return to the Moat House, sought her mother in the sitting-room in the east wing.
Mrs. Wallis, who was employed on some needlework, glanced up with a smile as Joy entered, and exclaimed, involuntarily:
"How well you look, my dear! Why, you're quite rosy! Not much like the pale little maiden of six months ago."
"And how well you look, mother!" Joy cried, in return, her eyes resting with admiring affection on Mrs. Wallis's countenance. "I declare you appear years younger than when we came here! Yes, indeed it's true! Mrs. Mallock said so to me only a few days ago."