Kenneth's fun chased away all the tears, and Ella's face grew quite sunshiny again. The next hour sped as on wings, and all too soon, so it seemed to Ella, Molly, her grandmother's little maid, called to take her home. So ended one of the happiest afternoons and evenings she had ever spent.
Uncle Phil's visit meant a series of delights for the young ones, to say nothing of the beautiful presents he had brought for them all.
"I've never given that little chum of yours, Ella Russell, a present," said Dr. Carteret to Marcia one morning. "I wonder what she would like."
Marcia, who by this time was almost herself again, answered readily enough.
"Don't you think, Uncle Phil dear, you'd better call and ask her. I believe she'd like a book best of all, but I don't know for certain."
"I'll just run round, Marcia, and find out for myself;" said Uncle Phil; "that's a very good thought of yours." And a few minutes later, he acted on his words.
It was by no means his first visit to Rose Cottage. Indeed, he had called so frequently during the ten days he had been at the Hall that he and Mrs. Russell were now on the best of terms. The old lady, upon knowing that he had met her son in South Africa, so far unbent as to make him welcome at any time; as for Ella, her pleasure in seeing him was undoubted.
Dr. Carteret found the child busy dusting the little parlour, Mrs. Russell being occupied in the kitchen beyond.
"Hullo, Cinderella!" said the young doctor cheerily. He had taken a fancy to Kenneth's name for the little girl, and rarely called her anything else.
After their first greetings were over, he told her that he had something important to say.