Adam said he was sure it wouldn't. To begin with, it would give him an easier mind to think that, come what might, there was this little sum between his family and want. And again he murmured, "Thank God!"
Margaret did just notice these last words, accompanied as they were with a look that she had never before seen on Adam's face; but her mind was too full of her good fortune, and the distance to be traversed too short to allow either of much thought or questioning. Then baby, who had been gazing at her father with the inquiring steadiness peculiar to the age of innocence, all at once awoke to the fact that he was not a stranger, as she at first imagined.
Holding out her arms, she was received into those of Adam, who was delighted to see his pet ready to spring toward him as the little tongue once more shaped the word "Dada."
"She knows me now; little Bess knows dada," he said, as the plump arms went round his neck and the rosy cheek nestled lovingly in the old place, giving the father a sense of having recovered his tiny treasure.
A few more moments, and Margaret caught sight of the other five, eagerly watching for mother's coming, and grouped about the door of their cottage home.
Their astonishment at seeing their parents arrive in a cab, like real ladies and gentlemen ride in, almost rendered them speechless. But amazement gave way to joy, and mother was welcomed and baby squabbled over, each child being eager to take her, until, as Adam said, the little thing was "fair moithered" with the noise they made, and frightened at so many faces.
Little Bess settled the matter by clinging to her father with one arm and dealing a vigorous slap at Maggie, when her eldest sister strove to take her from his protecting grasp.
"Do be, children. You're fit to pull the child to pieces. Why, she'd forgot her dada at first, and do you think she'd remember a set of 'ruffi'ns,' like you? Eh dear! I soon find out I'm among you again."
Though Mrs. Livesey called them 'ruffi'ns,' they all felt that she was glad to be amongst them, for whilst Adam was handing out the packages, a great deal of hugging and kissing had to be done. The mother was not given to great displays of tenderness, but there was usually more in her heart than in her actions. The sight of the little group safe, well, and bearing about them all the signs of having been carefully watched over, made her almost too glad for words, and there was moisture in her eyes as she put down little Adam, "her baby but one."