"He doesn't know," she said. "I couldn't tell him till you should come, for fear of disappointing him."
The argument seemed strained, but no one said so, and with a whispered good-night Ruth drove away, and the two went in. As they stole upstairs they debated how Isabel had best reveal herself. "I'm terribly afraid that won't work, blessing," said Mrs. Morris; "you'd better let me break it to him, first."
"No, dearie, I don't think so. I haven't the shadow of a fear"—
"Oh, my darling child, you never have!"
"But I know him so well, mother. We have only to come unexpectedly face to face and—Oh, I've seen the effect so often!" They entered her room whispering: "I'll change this dress for the one he last saw me in, and stand over here by the crib where I stood then, and—Oh, sweet Heaven! is this my little flower sleeping just as I left her?" With clasped hands and tearful eyes she bent over the child.
XXI
EVENING RED
Then she began to unrobe, but stopped to throw her arms about her mother's neck.
"Now, dearly beloved, you hurry away down the path and persuade him up and send him in. I'm only afraid you'll find him chilled half to death, it's growing cold so fast. And you can follow in after him, dearie, if you wish,—only not too close."