Madelene turned. There was a smile on her face, almost the first Ella had seen there; the quiet, somewhat impassive countenance seemed transfigured.
“Yes,” she said, “it is lovely. I am glad for you to see it again for the first time on a day like this, though to us, and I think you will agree with us when you have lived here long enough, Coombesthorpe has a charm of its own in every season.”
Ella opened her lips to reply, but before she had time to do so, she caught sight of a figure hastening towards them over the lawn.
“Oh,” said Madelene, “here is Ermine. Yes! Ermie,” she called out, before the new-comer was quite close to them, “it is she—it is really Ella.”
Chapter Four.
Back in the Nursery.
Ella’s eyes rested on her second sister with admiration scarcely less than that which her first glance at Madelene had aroused.
“At least,” she thought to herself, for a moment throwing her prejudice and irritation aside, “at least I have no reason to be anything but proud of my belongings. They are both beautiful.”