This she did, sitting down on the topmost stair of the grand staircase, among the coloured lights. It brought her good news—her father and mother were to come home early next summer, and she had thought when parted from them that they would not return for three years.
“Madame Giche,” said she, after she had wiped away the happy tears which would come, dancing into the tapestried room, almost like one of the twins, “papa and mamma are coming home next summer.”
“Indeed, dear: that won’t be long to wait,” returned the kindly old lady; and Inna, remembering the long, long years of waiting she had known, nestled to her side and kissed her.
Another joy came to Inna that same evening. Oscar was better, was conscious at last; he had just awoke from a sweet refreshing sleep, and cheered all their hearts at the farm, and his uncle had pronounced him out of danger. Dick [p145] Gregory brought the news to the Owl’s Nest. The change for the better in his friend had come at the right time; to-morrow he was to go back to school, he told Inna, as she strayed out to him on the moonlit terrace.
“DICK SHOOK HER BY THE HAND.”
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“And now, hurrah!” cried the happy boy, tossing up his cap, and making Inna laugh a tinkling, happy laugh, such as she had not indulged in for so many anxious days. Then Dick shook her by the hand as she told him of her letter, with its good news, bade her cheer up, and promised to tell Jenny, whom he pointed out to her away down the shadowy avenue, standing by the donkey and cart—not to shock Madame Giche with the rumbling old thing by bringing it nearer, he told her.
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