"Yes, she is," Joy answered; "she came to wait upon me, like she did at A—, but I don't need her services any longer, I'm glad to say, so she's stopping on as a housemaid. Oh, Celia, it's good to see you again!"
Celia smiled. She thought it was good to see Joy, too, though it was a shock to her when she noticed that, though her sister had discarded the crutch she had been obliged to use when she had first begun to move about after the operation, she was still somewhat lame. But Joy did not seem to mind that in the least; indeed, as she told Celia, it was a wonder that she could walk at all, and she was full of praises of the famous surgeon, who, under God's guidance, had done so much for her.
How the young people talked at the tea-table that evening! Indeed the conversation was mostly between them, for Mrs. Wallis and Sir Jasper were content to sit quietly listening. Joy had so much to tell concerning her experiences in the hospital, of her subsequent removal to the Moat House, and of the great kindness everyone had shown to her.
"Miss Pring used to come and sit with me before I could get about much," she said, "and Miss Mary—Mrs. Cole, I mean—has been here nearly every day. Oh, Eric, the village boys are so looking forward to see you and Putty again! Do you know they are practising for a match against an eleven from T—? It's to be played on the Crumleigh ground, so we must all go and look on, mustn't we, Uncle Jasper."
"Certainly," Sir Jasper agreed, with astonishing readiness. "How does Lulu like it at boarding-school?" he inquired of Celia.
"Oh, very well, now," was the response. "She did not care for it at all at first, nor did I; we found the discipline so irksome, but we soon grew accustomed to that. Lulu is a great favourite with everyone, for she's really very kind-hearted." Celia paused a moment in hesitation, then proceeded with a glance at her mother's interested face. "The girls used to laugh at her for being so fond of dress, they nicknamed her 'The Duchess,' and, oh, she was so angry! It very rude of them, of course, but girls at school are like that, you know, they don't consider each other's feelings much. Well, that was last term. After Easter, Lulu came back dressed as plainly as anyone in the school."
"Bravo!" cried Sir Jasper, laughingly, whilst Eric remarked, with approval in his tone:
"I noticed she was without her usual fal-lals to-day."
After tea they all adjourned to the terrace, where they were joined by Wag, now grown a handsome dog.
"Poor fellow, he was so disappointed when he found he could not induce me to run about and play with him," Joy said, as she fondled the spaniel's soft, silky ears. "I believe he thought all the fun had gone out me. But never was there a greater mistake! You'll have to take him in hand, Eric, and give him some long walks, like you did last year."