From that moment Gertie, in the eyes of Mrs. Adrian, was the outward and visible sign of a triumph gained over her betes noires, the foreign ladies and gentlemen of missionary books of travel. The child by her presence represented a great moral victory, and Mrs. Adrian was her devoted champion from that hour.
By her gentle nature and loving ways she rapidly endeared herself to all. Ruth was delighted, and her mind was relieved of a great burden. When Gertie had been with them a fortnight there was no one beneath the roof that would not have grieved sincerely and felt it a personal loss to be deprived of her sunshiny presence.
Her early days with the Adrians were uneventful. At her earnest request Ruth had not apprised Heckett of her whereabouts. The child pleaded so hard, and seemed so terrified, that Ruth contented herself with sending a message by a trustworthy person to the old dog-fancier that his grand-daughter was in a good home.
But the old man’s attempt to find out where the home was situated, or who was at the bottom of the child’s mysterious conduct, failed altogether. The message only reached him in roundabout way, being left with the person who kept the shop below his rooms, which Heckett only visited occasionally now.
The first great event in Gertie’s new life was the charity bazaar, at which, to her intense delight, she was allowed to assist at Ruth’s stall.
She came back full of it, and told Mr. and Mrs. Adrian at teatime all about the gentleman who had bought her violets, been so curious about Ruth’s name, and had seemed so much astonished when she (Gertie) told him her own.
Mr. Adrian was much amused by Gertie’s description of Egerton’s admiration of Ruth and his eagerness to know her name.
He looked across the table, and said with a smile:
‘Many a good match made through a charity bazaar, Ruth, my dear. Perhaps Gertie brought you a suitor.’
It was only a joke, but Ruth’s cheeks went scarlet.