Tib and I had still enough questions to ask to make up for his not asking any. We were in a fever to see Regina, and very glad when Gerald ran up stairs again to say that she had just driven over in the Lauristons' pony-carriage to fetch us, and was waiting downstairs, and we hurried down as fast as we could.
"But what about grandpapa?" said Tib, as we got to the first landing. "Should we not go to say good morning or something to him?"
I hesitated, but just at that moment we heard his voice. He was standing in the porch talking to Regina. You can't think how funny it seemed. When he heard us he came into the hall and met us at the foot of the stairs. Then he kissed us each, in a way he had never kissed us before. It was like saying, "You understand all now. Let us begin a new life together;" though his said words were only, "Good morning, my dear children. Are you all quite well and not tired now?"
"Quite well, thank you, dear grandpapa," and I am sure he understood "between the lines," as people say of a letter meaning more than it shows.
"I wish you could come with us, Uncle Gerald," said Regina, as we were driving off.
"Thank you, my dear, but I am very busy," he said. There was a look in his eyes to her that I had never seen before.
"But Charlie will be here this afternoon, and he does help you, doesn't he?" she said.
"Very much," grandpapa replied.
We looked back at him, standing there in the doorway.
"Grandpapa is changed since last night," said Tib.