"May I come in?" he asked with grave cheerfulness.
She stepped back silently, her heart too full for speech, and passing in he closed the door.
"My dear child, you will excuse me?" he began, but throwing her arms round his neck she burst into tears.
"O, uncle, you are so kind! but it is too much," she sobbed, hiding her face on his shoulder.
"Nonsense! the merest trifle!" he said, stroking her hair. "But if you don't like them—"
"Like them!" she cried. "They're just lovely! every one of them, but—"
"No, no! no buts," he said gayly; "if they suit your taste it's all right. The gaiters that Mrs. Dinsmore says are necessary to match the dresses, can be made nearer home and we'll have two days, Friday and Saturday for sight seeing. This is Thursday, and early Monday morning we leave for Roselands."
"But O, uncle, you shouldn't have spent so much money on me," began Mildred.
"I, child? your Aunt Wealthy you mean. Didn't you read my note?"