Then Lilian stepped forward, and shook hands with Raymond, and kissed Madge. Madge returned the kiss; but she seemed intent on watching Raymond, as if she had no other thought than to take care of him.
"I will take Raymond to his room, and he had better lie down for a while," said Mr. Smith.
The boy smiled faintly, but he was too tired to speak; so his friend and Madge helped him to the pretty room which had been prepared for him, overlooking the sea.
He lay on the bed with his eyes fixed on the water; but very soon, overcome with the fatigue of the journey, he fell asleep; and when, a little while after, Madge stole softly into the room, she found him slumbering peacefully. For an instant she bent over him, and the dark earnest eyes were filled with tears of thankfulness that he was spared to her, and was likely to recover health and strength in this beautiful home. Then little Madge drew the curtain across the window to exclude the light from his eyes, and left the room as quietly as she had entered it.
She found Lilian waiting for her at the foot of the stairs; and before long the two children had become quite confidential, and were rapidly making friends.
In the evening Raymond was allowed to come down-stairs, and to lie on the sofa in the pretty drawing-room.
Lilian came to his side with a handful of bright-coloured geraniums and white roses. "Papa says you like pretty things; and he told me I might bring you these."
Raymond took them with a bright smile. They were not as beautiful as the child who gave them, glowing as the colours were.
"Are you better?" said Lilian.
"Yes, much better, thank you; I shall soon be quite well."