"It is to be a very gala day by the newspaper account, and I think you might take me with you, and we'll get hold of the Bishop and bring him back with us. Can you manage it, do you think?"
"What makes you want him so much?"
"I'll tell you if you care to hear."
Betty nodded, and there, in the glory of the setting sun which was flooding the western sky with every hue of the rainbow, she sat and listened to Jessie's story, her eyes filling with tears.
"But how lovely," she said, when he finished. "So you've planned that the Bishop shall come here on purpose to confirm her?"
"If he will and can; I've never had a keener candidate. Since that first talk with her I've been giving her a regular course of preparation for confirmation, not holding out any hope that it might be here and now, in case no opportunity presented itself, but just to have her ready in case one might be given me."
"Shall you tell her about it?"
"Not till I get the Bishop's answer. The disappointment would be too bitter if it came a second time."
But the Bishop's answer was kind and favourable. He had just four hours to spare, and provided he could be fetched and taken back to the nearest railway station when the service was over, he would be delighted to come.
The children happened to call immediately after Tom had brought Jessie the wonderful news, and found her simply radiant with joy.