A perfect delirium of happiness reigned at Kill Kare that morning. From being an abode of deep gloom, it had suddenly been transformed into a corner of Paradise.
For Cora was back again! Here she was, a little trembly about the mouth, a little teary about the eyes, her hands and arms bearing the marks of scratches where they had come in contact with thorns, her garments torn from pushing her way through the underbrush, but with no damage that a warm bath and a good breakfast and a long sleep would not repair.
They brought her in triumph into the house and seated her at the breakfast table that they had just deserted, while Aunt Betty and the maid hurried about to prepare her something hot and comforting.
“I ought to go to my room first and freshen up and change my clothes,” the girl objected, her purely feminine instincts coming to the fore, now that she was once more in touch with civilization. “I must look a perfect fright.”
“Just at this moment you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” declared her brother fervently.
“That’s what!” confirmed Walter. “We’ve been wanting to see you so badly that now we can’t bear to take our eyes off you.”
“You’re not going to get out of our sight again in a hurry,” maintained Paul.
As for Bess and Belle, their voices broke so when they tried to speak that they had to content themselves with pats and hugs.
As for Aunt Betty, she went around hardly knowing, as she declared, whether she was awake or dreaming, while she laughed and cried at the same time.
“Such a hideous nightmare as this has been!” ejaculated Jack, as he hugged his sister for the twentieth time.