It was a great relief to her that they were not alone for the last ten miles that lay between them and Pleasant Plains.
[CHAPTER V.]
"Nor need we power or splendor,
Wide hall or lordly dome;
The good, the true, the tender—
These form the wealth of home."
Mrs. Hale.
Could that be home—that pretty, tasteful dwelling, embosomed in trees, shrubs, and vines? Mildred was half in doubt, for the house itself seemed to have grown as well as the vegetation that environed it. But yes, the stage was stopping: and there were father and Rupert at the gate, mother and the rest on the porch; every face beaming a joyous welcome.
How Mr. Lord envied them as the stage whirled him rapidly away, out of sight and hearing of the glad greetings!
We will not attempt to describe these: there were close embraces, tears of joy, low-breathed words of tenderness and love, of gratitude to Him who had preserved a beloved child in all her journeyings, and brought her to her home again in safety and health; and there were shouts of delight from the little ones, to whom it seemed half a lifetime since sister Milly went away.
"How we have missed you! and, oh, how glad we are to have you back again!" her mother said, looking smilingly at her, but with glistening eyes.