As a refusal would not only be discourteous, but very unkind, Mrs. Russell somewhat unwillingly gave permission, and so commenced a friendship betwixt Rose Cottage and Berryland Hall, a friendship which was destined to bring much pleasure into little Ella's otherwise colourless existence.
What a happy afternoon it was, to be sure! Ella seemed for the time to be in a new world. Never since her father had left home had the little girl known what it meant to have any real fun or frolic. All save Gertie, who was more than a little jealous, fell in love with "Cinderella." She was so gentle, yet withal so merry and winsome.
At tea-time Kenneth and Rupert vied with each other in their attentions to the two invalids, as they called Marcia and Ella. Both children were waited upon as though they were little princesses, and very much they seemed to enjoy it too. Ella's broken arm rendered her rather helpless in some ways, but never once was she suffered to feel her crippled condition.
After tea was over, there followed a lovely chat around the nursery fire before going downstairs to Mrs. Snowden in the drawing-room.
"Let's talk about the jolliest thing that could happen in all the world," said Rupert, by way of a start.
"That would be another month's holiday," was Gertie's immediate response.
"No, it wouldn't. The nicest thing that could possibly happen would be for Uncle Phil to come home from South Africa," said Kenneth eagerly. "He's the finest chap that ever was, Cinderella," went on the boy. "The yarns he's got to tell would make your hair curl."
"It does curl now," laughed Ella, "only not so much as Gertie's and Marcia's."
"What should you like best to happen, Cinders?" said Rupert teasingly.
"Oh, to see father again!" was the quick reply. "When he comes home we are going to have such lovely times, Grannie, father and I."