And so saying they rejoined the others.
Charlotte’s misgivings that Lady Mildred would not return home for some length of time were realised. The old lady, who had not left England for many years, greatly enjoyed another taste of foreign travel, of which in her youth she had had much. Her mind was more at ease than it had been since her husband’s death as to the management of the property, and she also felt that she was conferring real and lasting benefits on Claudia. But some months before the two years during which her grand-niece was to be her charge, had expired, a sort of home-sickness came over them both.
“I think we won’t spend another Christmas away from England, Claudia,” she said rather suddenly one day. “I have a yearning to see Silverthorns again. And I know the Waldrons will never feel thoroughly at home till I am there myself. I must get to know Amy, and I want to see my pet Jerry again, and Charlotte too. And you will like to feel near your own people again, eh, my dear?”
“Yes, Aunt Mildred. It will be very nice, very nice,” said Claudia.
“Another Christmas if all’s well—if I’m still with you all, that’s to say,” pursued Lady Mildred, “we must have the house full. I must have you all over with me. But this year of course I must devote myself more particularly to Edward’s wife and children. And in that you will be a great help to me, you and Charlotte being already such friends.”
“She says—they say,” said Claudia laughing, “that I’m to spend all my holidays there—that’s to say when you don’t invite me. They are so very kind to me, really as if they were relations of my own. And some people in their place, Aunt Mildred, might not have been so cordial to me. I do think it’s delightful that your relations on the other side should be so nice. How beautifully things have turned out for us ever since that day you came down to Britton-Garnett! I do think I must have been born under a lucky star.”
And as she looked up with her sweet bright face and sunny eyes, Lady Mildred could not help agreeing with her.
“Yes, my dear, good child,” she said; “I think indeed some very beneficent fairy godmother must have been at your christening. You have some gifts you scarcely realise—the gift of bringing sunshine into other lives for one.”
“Auntie dear,” said Claudia, almost startled, for never was woman less demonstrative than Lady Mildred; “you are too good to me. I can do so little, and everybody is so kind to me. Auntie dear,” she went on timidly; “have I really brought a little sunshine to you?”
Lady Mildred smiled and stroked the girl’s soft hair as Claudia knelt down beside her; and though she did not speak, her niece was more than satisfied.