Fleda's head went down again and tears dropped fast upon little Rolf's shoulder.
"I suppose my pride has been a little broken too," Marion went on, "or I shouldn't have kept it. But then if you saw the person, and the whole manner of it--I don't know how I could ever have sent it back. Literally I couldn't, though, for I hadn't the least clue. I never saw or heard from him afterwards."
"When was this, Marion?"
"Last spring."
"Last spring!--then what kept you so long?"
"Because of the arrival of eyes that I was afraid of. I dared not make the least move that would show I could move. I came off the very first packet after I was free."
"How glad you must be!" said Fleda.
"Glad!--"
"Glad of what, mamma?" said Rolf, whose dreams the entrance of Barby had probably disturbed.
"Glad of bread and butter," said his mother; "wake up--here it is."