Sydney, Gladys, and Jan held back, feeling that Gwen’s father and mother had the first right to her, but Viva and Jerry threw themselves into the outstretched arms, as Mr. Graham and his wife clasped Gwen at the same moment. There was a confused scrimmage of hugging and kissing, and Mr. Graham recognized Gwen’s linen bandage and Jerry’s lace collar, mixed with Viva’s hair, while Mrs. Graham rained tears and kisses on her husband’s cuff. But it did not matter. In a moment Gladys and Jan were added to the joyous confusion, and there was such an utter abandonment of happiness, and such oblivion to anything but the blessed fact that Gwen’s precious eyes were safe that Gwen realized for the first time how dear she was to all these throbbing hearts, and how hard must have been the past six weeks to them as well as to her, in which they were bravely trying to keep their own grief out of sight while they helped her bear her burden.
“When can I really have my eyes?” asked Gwen, when some of the excitement had spent itself.
“You may take off the bandages in a week, but your eyes must be used with the greatest care, and very little, all summer. Then by fall Doctor Amberton thinks they will be perfectly strong,” said Mrs. Graham. “And now, children, go your ways, for Gwen and I are going to rest quite by ourselves for a little while.”
Gladys and Jan left the room, arms around each other’s waists, in the most loving girl fashion, and Mr. Graham followed behind them, smiling, well pleased at the sight, and remembering how positively Gladys had declared that she “would not go about with a Wild West Show” when he had announced Jan’s coming. “Little Miss Lochinvar has won us all,” he thought, realizing what a happy thing her coming had been for his own children.
“I wonder, Jan,” Gladys was saying as they went toward Jan’s room, “I wonder if mamma wouldn’t let us ask some of our friends for a celebration on the day Gwen tries her eyes for the first time? She needn’t see them long enough to get tired, but it would be rather nice to get together everybody she likes to look at when she looks for the first time for so long.”
“It would be ever so nice,” said Jan heartily. “If Aunt Tina will let us—if she doesn’t think it would hurt Gwen.”
At the self-same moment Gwen was saying: “Mamma, it is Miss Lochinvar’s birthday on the 1st of March. Don’t you think I might use my eyes for the first time on that day, and have a little surprise party for her? I wouldn’t have to stay in the room longer than was safe, but I’d like to get the girls together to keep Jan’s birthday properly. She’s done more for me than you can guess; I couldn’t repay her if I tried forever. And look at Gladys and Sydney! And how much sweeter Jerry is! And she hasn’t any more notion of how nice she is than—than——”
“Than a bright little wild rose along the roadside knows how sweet and cheering it is,” finished her mother for her, as Gwen hesitated for a simile. “It is only that she is good, really good, unselfish, unaffected, sincere. She has done a great deal for us all, Gwen. It is a curious thing to see how one little girl can diffuse happiness, and make her sweetness contagious only by unconsciously showing how lovely such a true little woman can be. I mean to write your Aunt Jennie and beg her to let Jan go with us to the seashore this summer and stay on for another winter in New York; I have a hope of getting her gradually to make this her home, and her visits to Crescendo.”
“You won’t succeed, mamma,” said Gwen, shaking her head dolefully. “I’d give anything in the world to keep Jan every minute of my life, but she’s too fond of home for that. She truly doesn’t think there’s anything to do in New York—she said so once, and then was afraid she’d hurt my feelings. Nothing to do here, but lots that is interesting in that little Crescendo of hers—only think!” And Gwen laughed.
“Well, at the worst, her father and mother must let her spend part of each year with us, now that they have taught us to depend upon her,” said Mrs. Graham. “However, we need not settle that now. About your party: Yes, I think it can be done, and I should like to honor Jan by celebrating her birthday. On the first? That is eight days off. Very well; we’ll have the party. And now rest, my darling Gwen. You can’t dream how glad your mother is to know you are to look upon her again so soon!”