Having heard thus much, and recalling even then Posy Jane’s saying about “listeners hearin’ no good o’ theirselves,” Take-a-Stitch quietly rose and went around the tree till she stood before her troubled friends.
“Why, I thought you was asleep!” cried poor Timothy, rather awkwardly and very red in the face.
“So I was, part of the time. Part I wasn’t and I listened. I shouldn’t ought, I know, an’ grandpa would say so, but I’m glad I did, ’cause you needn’t worry no more ’bout Bonny Angel an’ me. I will start right off. I was going to, to-morrow, anyway, if she didn’t get sick again; an’ Mis’ Fogarty will have to leave us these clothes till–till–I can some time–some day–maybe earn some for myself. Then I’ll get ’em sent back, somehow, an’—”
By this time, Mary was also upon her feet, tearful and compassionate and fain to turn her eyes away from the sad, brave little face that confronted her. Yet not even her pity could fathom the longing of this vagrant “Queen” for her dirty Lane and her loyal subjects; nor how she shrank in terror from the lonely search she knew she must yet continue, thinking, “’Cause grandpa would never have give me up if I was lost and I never will him, never, never, never! But if only Billy, er Nick, er—”
Mrs. Fogarty interrupted the little girl’s thoughts with the remark, “Now them ‘Asylums’ is just beautiful, honey darlin’–an’ you’ll be as happy as the day is long. You’ll—”
It was Glory’s turn to interrupt the cooing voice, which, indeed, she had scarcely heard, because of another sound which had come to her ear; and it was now a countenance glorified in truth by unlooked-for happiness that they saw, as with uplifted hand and parted lips, she strove to catch the distant strains of music which seemed sent to check her grief.
“Hark! Hark! Listen! Sh-h-h!” cried the girl.
“Bless us, colleen! Have ye lost your seventy senses, laughin’ an’ cryin’ to onct, like a daft creatur’?” demanded Timothy, amazed.
She did not stop to answer him but gently placing Bonny Angel in his arms, sped away down the road, crying ecstatically, “Luigi! Luigi!”