“Will you give me permission to make Janey a small gift, Mrs. Baker, to show her how happy and grateful I am?”
She undid the parcel and revealed a small jeweler’s box. She opened this in turn and lifted out something small and glittering. Kneeling in front of the pleased, astonished Jane, she slipped a slender, shining chain of gold over her head and kissed the smiling, rosy mouth.
“Oh, cricky!” ejaculated Christopher, his voice tingling with a faint note of envy.
His eyes were big with surprise and excitement.
Jane followed the direction of his gaze and looked down at what she supposed was a locket on the end of her chain. It was a tiny gold watch, ticking merrily. It had a pretty, open face and Jane’s initials engraved on the back.
“Oh, Mrs. Hartwell-Jones, dear Mrs. Hart-well-Jones, is it really for me!” she gasped. “Oh, how much you must love Letty!”
Mrs. Hartwell-Jones laughed, but the laugh was checked in the middle by a little sob. She turned and held out her arms again to Letty.
“My little girl, my little girl!” she whispered brokenly.
Jane ran to her own dear mother’s arms, and grandmother caught hold of one chubby hand. They all cried a wee bit, too—in silent sympathy for the lonely woman and lonely child who had found each other.
“Oh, shucks!” exclaimed Christopher uncomfortably.