“Why, of course you'll see her again,” answered Regie; “don't you know that you and Harry are going to make me a visit every winter, and that I am coming to Moorlow for a while every summer? Why, I love every foot of the beach and the bluff from your house to the Life-saving Station.”
“But, Mr. Vale, Regie can tell Sister Julia, can't he?” asked Nan; “she would love to know about them.”
“Yes; and I think he might tell Papa and Mamma Fairfax, and Harry and Nan, Papa and Mamma Murray; but besides those five people I think it would be better not to tell anybody.”
“So do I,” said Regie, warmly; “if you told about them, other fellows might think you were setting yourself up to be sort of extra good, and they wouldn't understand.”
“Exactly,” Mr. Vale answered, “and so you see it will be wiser to keep the matter to ourselves, only I shall expect you to candidly report to me, once in a while, if you really are remembering to give those four adjectives a large place in your life.”
“It was very, very kind of you to think of these pretty rings for a New Year present,” said Nan, after a pause.
“And we're very much obliged, Mr. Vale,” chimed in Harry and Regie; but the children's glowing faces showed deeper and more earnest thanks than could find their way into spoken words. Mr. Vale glanced toward the clock.
“I am afraid we must think about going,” he said, “or they may think I have smothered you here in my study, like the poor little princes in the Tower.”
“I wish we could stop in the church a moment and have a look at that organ,” suggested Harry; “I never saw one that was run by water-power.”
“We will then,” answered Mr. Vale, “only hurry into your overcoats so that we shall not lose any time.”