Mr. Winter walked in without looking or speaking; Priscilla walked beside him, her hand held fast in his, and even through all her wonderment she noticed how his hand trembled. Straight across the room they went, and right up to the windows where the blinds were still fast drawn. “I want you to be the first to draw these up,” he said gently, and Priscilla, a little nervously, but very gladly, pulled the cords, and let in the beautiful air and sunlight.
For a moment they stood there, Priscilla gazing with wide eyes at the glorious view which spread before her, glorious, yet almost awe-inspiring; Mr. Winter looking down at her, as though he could not yet force himself to let his eyes rest on what he had so long shut out. He turned away at last, and leaving her standing there alone, went over to Mrs. Carlyon, who was lingering in the doorway trying to keep back her tears.
“Forgive an old man’s sentiment,” he said to her, with his gentle sad smile; “as she was the first to let sunshine into my life again, I wanted her to be the first to let it into my house too.”
“I know, I understand,” said Mrs. Carlyon softly; “you are very brave.”
Then Loveday, with a cry of joy, relieved the tension of the moment, and every one felt grateful to the unconscious little maiden.
“O mummy!” she cried excitedly, “mummy! do look! Here is a dear dinky little cup with ‘Loveday’ on it. Then they do paint ‘Loveday’ on things sometimes, and that woman told a story when she said they didn’t.”
Mr. Winter turned to her with a pleased smile.
“That was my Grannie’s cup,” he said, “made on purpose for her, and that was her name; and as you are the only other Loveday I have ever known, I am going to ask you to use it, and after that to accept it from me as a little keepsake from the ogre to the pisky.”
At which Loveday gasped and squealed again more delightedly than ever, and from that moment forgave him for her humiliation, even going so far as to admit him as one of her very best friends.
It was a very pleasant tea that, and one none of them ever forgot, though it was not entirely joyous, owing to the many memories called up, and the thought of the parting on the morrow, which was hanging over them all.