“What did Mr. Winter say when he came back and let you out?” asked Dr. Carlyon.
“He said he hadn’t been able to think of a punishment yet, so we might go home then, and he would send for us later. Aaron said that was because it was going to be something dreadful, and I wanted to run away to some place where I could never be caught; but Aaron said it would be mean to go and leave him to face it all. Would it, father?”
“Very. I am extremely glad you did not do that.”
“But, daddy, s’posing he sends me away from you! What shall I do?” and the blue eyes filled with tears again.
And at the sight of them, and the thought of such a dreadful possibility, Priscilla, who had been standing near with a very, very serious face, listening to all the harrowing story, almost wept too, and told her precious secret in her desire to comfort her little sister.
“Oh, dear little Loveday, don’t cry any more! You won’t be sent away—I am sure you won’t. And just look here at the lovely present I’ve got for you! Father, put her down, that she may try it on.”
For the moment, at any rate, all Loveday’s woes vanished, and Priscilla forgot her cares, too, in the excitement and happiness at the pleasure in store for Loveday. And then the basket was opened, and out came the parcel, and the red cloak was unfolded, and displayed before Loveday’s dazzled eyes; and her delight was as great as even Priscilla had hoped it would be.
“For me!” she cried—“me! For my very own! O Prissy, how lovely! What a dear! Let me put it on quick. Do you think it will suit me?” And in another moment the pretty red cloak was round her, and the hood drawn over her tumbled curls, while Prissy, like a little mother, knelt to button it round her, managing as best she could with her one hand.
“Do I look very pretty in it?” asked Loveday, appealing, quite unembarrassed, to her father.
“Well, not so very plain,” said her father, pretending to study her very critically. “I have seen you look worse,” though in his heart he thought he had seldom seen anything so charming as the little flushed face, the eyes still bright with unshed tears, surrounded by its tangle of curls and the red hood.