Charley’s eyes followed the direction of her glance, and then returned to her face.
“Why wouldn’t it do to wait?” he asked with a touch of uneasiness in his voice. “What are you thinking of, Winnie?”
“Of the swallows,” she answered still absently; “we must have it before they go, you know!”
“Why?” and Charley opened his eyes wide, not seeing the connection.
Winifred awoke from her daydream with a little start, and smiled.
“Oh, I don’t quite know. Perhaps it is all fancy. Only it seems sometimes as if everything would be different when the swallows go.”
Charley looked still half-uneasy and half-puzzled; but Ronald had so many questions to ask about the tea-party that there was no time to wonder more about Winifred’s thoughts.
“Will anybody else come beside our fellows?”
“I shall ask Violet,” answered Winifred. “She will be pleased to come, and can stay with me whilst you and the boys are playing in the garden before tea. We will get it all ready for you. Violet will like that; I don’t think I have been quite kind lately. I have forgotten her sometimes; and poor little Vi has no brothers, and not half so many nice things as I have. I wish I hadn’t been so selfish.”
Winifred sighed a little, and Charley stood up and put his arm about her neck.