"The flowers are peeping forth again; I see you love them," he said, cheerfully; "and what a place this is for birds; I never heard such a twittering. Are there any robins in the old nest at the bottom of the garden?"
"Oh yes, they have come," answered Lucy, wondering who could know so well about the robin's nest.
"We ought to be friends, Lucy," continued the stranger's pleasant voice, "for I could hush you when you were a baby, when nobody else could make you stop crying. You were a fat little thing then, and you are not so very much heavier now." And he jumped the little girl high in the air.
Lucy by this time had made up her mind, that whoever the stranger might be, she liked him.
"Can it be uncle Gillette?" she had once thought to herself; but she immediately decided that it was not he, as she had always imagined him very stern, with large black eyes, and the stranger's face was mild and cheerful, and his eyes were of a soft hazel.
"I have more little friends in the house," said the gentleman, and with Lucy's hand in his, he entered the door. Rosa was half-way down stairs; she caught one glimpse of the stranger, and then gave a flying leap, which nearly brought her to his side.
"Oh! uncle Gillette, I am so glad to see you," she said, as he bent to kiss her, apparently as delighted as herself.
Harty came out to see what was the cause of all this commotion, and was greeted with a cordial shake of the hand, and the address, "I hope Harty has not forgotten his old playfellow, uncle Gillette."
The children thought their father welcomed their uncle somewhat coldly; but they changed their minds when they found that he had been expecting him for several days, and had accompanied him from the station to the gate.
Lucy had supposed that she should be very much afraid of Mr. Gillette, as she knew that he was very learned and good; but she found him as mild and simple as a little child, and she was most happy to take the low stool he placed for her at his side, and look into his pleasant face, while she listened to his conversation.