“Better—far better than ever!” cried Pauline’s gay and almost rollicking voice. “Here I am, stronger than ever, and quite, quite well.”
The next moment Pauline’s arms were flung round her aunt’s neck.
“You must forgive me first of all,” she said. “I have come back to confess, and I want to get my confession over. I want all the others to stand round and listen. Ah! here they come. Don’t rush at me for a moment, girls. Don’t hug me or do anything of that sort. Stand still and listen, listen, listen. I was rebellious, and I did wrong, and——”
“My darling,” interrupted Miss Tredgold, “we know the whole story. We only want you to confess that you did wrong, and then never, never to allude to it again; for I see, Pauline, by your eyes that you mean to do right now.”
“I will obey you because I love you,” said Pauline.
“There, madam! I think she is pretty well restored,” cried the farmer. “And she is the best young lady in the world. Nancy and I have brought her home, and now, with your permission, madam, we will take our leave.”
“Nothing of the sort!” cried Miss Tredgold. “If you did wrong, Pauline, I was by no means altogether in the right. I little knew when I told you, my dears, to have nothing more to do with Farmer King and his daughter, that I was preventing your enjoying the society of a gentleman. Please shake hands with me, Mr. King.”
Farmer King’s face was quite pale with emotion.
“I admire you; I thank you,” said Miss Tredgold. “You are a man in a thousand;” and again she held out her hand.
This time Farmer King wrung it. But he was absolutely speechless; not a single word passed his lips.