PRESENTLY though, just for a time another shadow fell, for it seemed only a very, very little while before it was time for her mother to leave.
“I wish you could stay all the time, mother,” she whispered eagerly. “Couldn’t you, mother? It would do you good too.”
“But, darling, think of poor Priscilla. She will be wanting me, and I know you wouldn’t like to keep me away from her.”
Loveday was not quite sure of that at the moment, but she would not have said so; and when she thought of pale, suffering Prissy, she tried hard to choke down any selfish feeling, and to be very brave. “But—you will come again soon, won’t you, mother?”
“Yes, darling, very soon; and I expect father will run down to see you in a very little while, and we will always let you know if any of us are coming, so that you can come to meet us. Now, are you going to see me off at the station, or will you stay here and wave your handkerchief to me?”
“Oh, please, I’ll go to the station.”
They all had tea on the beach outside the cottage, and when that was done it was almost time for Mrs. Carlyon to start on her homeward journey. Bessie was to go to the station too, and take Aaron with her; and Mrs. Carlyon felt pretty sure that by the time Loveday had had the double walk, she would be too tired to fret much, or feel lonely, or to do anything but go to bed and sleep.
She was a very brave little woman, on the whole, considering that she was alone in a strange place, and with people who were almost strangers to her. A few tears did force themselves through her lids, but she did not say anything.
“When you get back, darling, you must help Bessie to unpack your box, and you will be able to give Aaron his monkey, then you will be ready for bed, and when you wake up again it will be morning, and you will feel so happy, and there will be so much to see and do, that you will scarcely know what to see and do first. But don’t forget to collect a nice lot of shells for Priscilla.”
Then the engine gave two or three snorts and puffs, and a loud whistle—away moved the train, and Loveday found herself left alone.