Martha came down with more, her very forehead sharing in the great smile that widened all her features.
She shook the Captain’s hand and Esther’s; then small Essie ran before her, and she pulled up her apron to catch a sudden sob and went away.
Little Mrs. Hassal picked up the child,—just her [278] ]own little girl Esther over again. She gave her a lump of sugar and squeezed her tenderly for nothing in particular. Then Nellie crept round and took her to find the prettiest cake of all, and Pip rode her round and round on his shoulders and kissed her again and again when she happened to stand near him.
And once, when running back from the house with her grand new doll for inspection, her eager little feet tripped and she fell on the path, [the whole six] started up and rushed to pick her up. Esther told herself she had left her darling in loving enough hands, she need not have worried so.
“But she seems a little thinner to me, Meg,” she said; “I don’t know if it is my fancy.”
Then they all grew silent, and each one waited for the other to tell.
It was Nellie who spoke at last, and told the story, and Esther’s tears fell and she clasped her baby close to her breast and thanked God who had been so good to her. And the Captain put out his hand and drew his eldest daughter closer to him, and said he did not think Alan could have her now.
It is only four o’clock, and the spring glad sunshine is still over everything; the feast is at its height, and all faces untroubled again. Let us leave them here.
[279]
]Esther is leaning against her husband, her bright face full of content and happiness; once or twice her eyes have gone skywards, and the light in them has deepened. Essie is in her arms, saucy and dimpled: she knows she is the undisputed queen of that gathering, and is taking advantage of her power by giving all manner of sweet little commands.
Peter is still engaged on the cakes; he is only eating the tops of them where the peel nestles, but no one has noticed. He has just informed Esther of the progress he has made in her absence.