“Eccentricities,” interrupted the old lady pleasantly, with an odd twinkle in her eyes. “Well, I was anxious to know these young ladies. Yes, I guess I know them now, one of them at least.” She glanced wrathfully at Cynthia, who stood with down-cast eyes, her face as crimson as a poppy, and her heart in a strange tumult of amazement, anger, and regret.
But Nathalie, in her quick, impulsive way, had thrown her arms around Mrs. Renwick’s neck and was giving her a good hug, as she cried, “Oh! my dear little lady of the red house, I am so glad you are Aunt Mary, for now you will have to be my friend, and answer my letters whether you want to or not.”
The old lady’s gray eyes softened, as she bent forward and kissed the girl softly on each cheek as she answered gently, “Nathalie, you are just like your father,—he was my favorite brother,—but it is for yourself, child,” she added gravely, “that I have learned to love you. But who has won the prize?” she inquired abruptly, smiling down at the children who were staring at her uncomprehendingly, recognizing her as the inmate of the red house, who seemed to have suddenly assumed a new character.
“Come over here and look them over,—I mean the valuable things,” advised Mr. Banker, at this moment, as he led Mrs. Renwick to the table, “for the diaries you saw last night.” And then he pointed out in quick succession the three articles of value that were grouped on the table.
Mrs. Renwick glanced carelessly at the picture. “Yes, it is most valuable,” she assented quietly, “a Van Dyke. And so is this”; she fingered Janet’s choice. “But what is this?” she added suddenly, as her eyes fell on the little Bible that lay at her elbow.
“This is Philip’s Bible,” said the gentleman, “and it was selected by Miss Nathalie—”
“Why, Nathalie, my child, did you select my dear son’s Bible?” As Nathalie mutely assented, Mrs. Renwick motioned for her to come and tell her why she had made this choice. With some embarrassment the girl gave her reasons. As she finished, her aunt said: “Yes, my dear child, there is nothing in the house I value as highly as Philip’s Bible. Nathalie, you have won the prize, and you deserve it, my dear, for you have not only selected the most valuable thing, but you have learned what is the most valuable thing in life.” The old lady drew Nathalie close to her, as she again kissed her on both of her flushed cheeks.
But Nathalie drew quickly away, for a sudden thought had come to her. “Oh, wait a moment!” she exclaimed hurriedly. “I’ll be back presently,” and then, without waiting to be excused, she flew from the room.
“Oh, Philip!” screamed the girl a moment or so later, as she rushed up to her friend, who was reading in the hammock, “I want you to come with me—quick! Oh—I—” she paused as if at a loss to explain, and then added hurriedly, “Oh, do come! I have something to show you!”
Philip looked up at the girl in surprise, but, instantly perceiving from her bright, shining eyes, that she was more than usually excited, he jumped from the hammock crying, “All right, Blue Robin, you look very happy, so I suppose it is something very good to see, or good to eat.”