"Thank you, you have comforted me so, father." Then, after a momentary pause, "I shall be awake when you come to give me a last kiss before you go."
And his eyes were wide open when, in the early winter morning, Mr. Grainger stepped quietly into the room adjoining his own to say good-bye to his little crippled son. But with the exception of Edgar, who was to accompany him to the station, all the other children were sound asleep when he left the house from which he would be absent a whole long year.
[CHAPTER II.]
THE DAY THAT FOLLOWED.
DORA had resolved to be up to see her father start, and she felt vexed with herself when on awaking she heard the clock strike seven. She knew then that he had been gone nearly two hours, and becoming aware it was a very cold morning, she nestled down in her bed again, while her thoughts went back to the conversation of the previous evening and the good resolutions she had formed. How much she would do during the year begun that day! The children should all look up to, and love, and obey her, and her mother would lean more and more upon her, till when her father came home her mother would say, "I do not know what I should have done without Dora. Right nobly has she fulfilled the trust you gave her."
And thereupon she began thinking what a pretty story she could weave out of her own life. A year ago she had been told she might have a tiny room at the top of the house for her own use. It was very little larger than a good-sized cupboard, but she considered it a great privilege to be its only occupant, and here she had spent many a spare hour and half-holiday in scribbling tales and "making poetry," for it was Dora's great ambition to become an authoress.
Now, with herself for the heroine of her story, she wove a charming little romance. This proved such a delightful occupation that she quite forgot the lapse of time till the sound of a church bell, tolling for an early service, brought her back to the real world in which she lived. Ten minutes to eight, and eight o'clock was the breakfast hour! It was impossible to dress properly. So having put on her clothes, she washed her face, hurried over a prayer, and ran downstairs. She was relieved to find Katie cutting bread and butter, and helping generally.
"I am so sorry to be late," she said, as she gave her mother a kiss. "I meant to be in such good time this morning."
"Never mind, dear," was the kind reply. "I have no doubt you were tired when you went to bed last night, and perhaps did not go to sleep quickly. Now, will you please do Phil's feeder, and see that he doesn't eat his bread and milk too quickly?"