After dinner when they were alone together before the fire, Walter spoke: “Elizabeth there is something I want very much.”
She smoothed his hair caressingly from his forehead as she replied, “You know dear if it is anything I can give you, you shall have it.”
“But this will be hard for you;” Walter hesitated, then added, “It is my old friends I want.”
She caught her breath; “I don’t understand,” she said.
Then her brother told her about Caro’s visit with Trolley. “It has made me feel,” he continued, “as I have thought about it since, that I have been living very selfishly. My life as I used to think of it has to be sure, been spoiled, but there are still small things I might do—to make a little cheer, as Caro says—and to begin with I want my friends again. I want to forget—I want you to forget—all that has been unpleasant in the past.”
“And you think they will be willing to come back to you, do you?” Miss Elizabeth asked bitterly.
“Yes, I think they will,” he said simply.
Miss Grayson had often told herself there was nothing she would not do for her brother, but had she dreamed of anything like this? Her proud heart had a fierce battle to fight.
“I shan’t ever be Miss Elizabeth again when we dress up; I don’t like her at all,” Caro said as the children walked down the garden path together.
“I told you she was cross,” Marjorie replied.