"And then, when you did get news, it was the best possible," Lulu interposed, eagerly; "oh, it's quite marvellous to think Joy can walk again!"
Yes, Joy could walk again. After the operation to her hip, she had spent two months in the London hospital where it had been performed, during which period her mother had occupied lodgings near; and when at last she had been pronounced well enough to be moved, she had been taken direct to the Moat House, where the east wing had been rebuilt, and refurnished with Mrs. Wallis's own furniture from A—.
When the girl had seen the familiar articles around her, she had not needed the assurance that henceforward this was to be her home, for she had realized at once that Celia's misdemeanours had been forgiven, and that Sir Jasper still adhered to his original intention of providing for the futures of his niece and her children. As Joy had been in the hospital during Easter, her sister and brother had spent their holidays at their respective schools, so the young people had not met for many months, and Celia and Eric were naturally much excited at being together again.
"We shall have great fun this long vacation, you'll see," Lulu proceeded; "father wrote and told me that Sir Jasper means to invite me to the Moat House to stay, and Lawrence Puttenham will be at the Vicarage, won't he, Eric?"
"Yes, for a month, I believe. I wonder if the Crumleigh Cricket Club still flourishes?"
"You may depend it does. The Vicar takes such an interest in it, and so does Sir Jasper."
"Did you see Uncle Jasper at Easter?" Eric inquired.
"Yes," Lulu nodded. "I spent a week-end at the Moat House with father, and Sir Jasper was very nice to me. I think he's greatly altered. On the Sunday he went to church with us, and—"
"Went to church with you!" Eric cried, vastly astonished. "Well, I never!"
"He always used to be a regular attendant at church before his son's death, but after that he wouldn't go anywhere till—"